Flying with baby at 9 months

At the Ottawa Airport, 6 am. V is unimpressed. Poor little guy.
He was such a good sport.

I did it! I actually travelled alone with my Little man to Thunder Bay to visit a friend. We travelled in luxury via Porter. Oh ya, I heart Porter :)

I don't know if I have the energy to describe the entire trek, but do know it's a lot of work, a LOT! A lot of planning, a lot of lifting and a lot of fussy around. A great learning trip, but I may have avoided it if I knew what I was getting into!

I love bullets! So here are a few pointers if you will be flying with baby:

• Travel documents: Ok, this was very frustrating for me! I could not find any clear instructions regarding flying as a solo parent on a domestic flight with an infant. At the end of the day, even the airline couldn't give me a straight answer. So here it is. "You do not need ID for anyone under 17 years old on a domestic flight." You also do not need a letter of consent. But be warned, they can ask for ID (and THEY ALL DID), but you don't need to show them anything! Does this not sound like the most ridiculous thing ever? Just make it mandatory people! I mean, it's not an outrageous request. You could easily be kidnapping a baby. Good thing I have a passport for him :)
• Plan ahead and pack light! I bought an umbrella stroller at a garage sale for our up coming trip to Mexico in January. It's light, folds nicely and reclines so V can nap! It was solid enough to shlep my purse and diaper bag too ;) I packed 1 large suitcase (Heys hard-shells are amazing, they glide really nicely too), 1 diaper bag and 1 large over the shoulder purse. I also had a jacket, which I should have kept in my suitcase. Too bulky and it's extra weight to carry around.
• My diaper bag was light and strategically packed: a few new toys and miniature Munsch books, diapers, wipes, changing pad, warm blanket, Manduca (life saver), cooler bag with food and enough formula for the flight), pacifier, bib, spoon, and snack for me.
• We were on two short flight (1hr and 2 hrs). It broke up the trip nicely and allowed me time to feed in between. Little V did great on the plain and didn't cry. On the way back, our flight was delayed and he was exhausted. It was 3 hours past his bedtime and I could tell he was trying to find a comfortable position to fall asleep in. Because we had someone next to us, it was really thighs and awkward. Poor guy, eventually passed out both times.
• Getting on and off the plane is challenging. You need to carry baby and all your things into the plane while explaining with your feet how the stroller folds up to the airline staff! haha It's always best to make it to pre-boarding because then you are not that "mom" who is delaying the flight.
• Going to the washroom on the plain is hard for you and baby! Porter plane are tinier than normal and don't have a changing station. I did it on the seat next to me. Sorry people, that was a sticky diaper! I handed V to a fellow mom who offered to help me, while I went to pee. Not that you want to burden another mom, but mom's are awesome and can handle it!

Here are some pics of us on the plane. Please feel free to ask any questions if there is something I missed! Are you going on a trip soon? Are you nervous about anything?

Me in V jet setting to Thunder Bay! PS- this was NOT us on the way back!
V was teething the entire trip and was not himself.
We also were not as lucky to have an entire row to ourselves. What a nightmare! 

Entertaining V in the best way possible, with a Porter magazine! There was a Dex ad with a blond girl that V fell in love with. It was so sweet to watch him coo and pet her face.

Enjoying the Porter Magazine and standing up! His two favourite things on flight!

Having fun with a photo shoot at my friend's cottage in Thunder Bay!
V is all packed up and ready to go with his tiny suit case. He is also the pilot in his blue bomber jacket ;)
BON VOYAGE!

Car Seats: So many rules

V is now almost 9 months, and I decided to change his car seat because I don't want to use the bucket anymore since he is getting a bit heavy for me.

Now, it's starting the get cold and there are so many rules with babies not supposed to be wearing snow suits in car seats. But what do you do when it's -30 degrees out? I found a nice thin and warm one piece suits from Columbia. It may not pass the test, but for me it's a good compromise.

All the rage is in The Diono! They are safe, sleek, comfortable, easy to clean and the best part is that they can be used until about 40 lbs or so. You never need another car seat again! They are quite tall for rear facing, so they don't fit in all cars. We have a Murano and it fit just fine. I like that they are not bulky, so you can actually fit 3 in a row in your back seat if needed. (OMG! Can you imagine?!! hahaha)

The only thing I am not crazy about is how V's head tilts forward when he fall asleep :( Other than that, no complaints!

What's your favourite seat or suit for your little one? Do you have any of these items? What's your feedback?

The Diono Radian®RXT in Cobalt

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

My little parrot! So appropriate because he loves his own voice ;)

Can you guess what I'll be for Halloween?

I feel bad, this year I didn't have a chance to carve a pumpkin with V ( although technically , it's not too late!).

But I did manage to finally make these ghoulish finger cookies last night. I have been longing to attempt making these, but I am not as confident in the kitchen when it comes to baking. Because of my "Off Road Cooking" style, I tend not to stick to recipes and do my own thing. As you know, baking is a science, and you just can't deviate from the instructions!
I was very happy with the way the cookies turned out, although there was lots of butter in this recipe which made the fingers chubby when they came out of the oven. They sort of lost their shape. I will know for next time!

Creepy butter cookie fingers with bloody almond nail. They taste really good!

Off Road Cooking: Cooking for Baby 101

Ok, so I have been posting lots of meal ideas that I have made for little man, but didn't realize that I might have to back it up a bit. Read about my first ever "Off Road Cooking" post here!

I dedicate this post to explaining how I go about preparing meals. I have it down to a very simple process that literally takes minutes :)

Note that I make fresh food every 4 days or so. I don't freeze food because I do not have a microwave at home. Now you are wondering why I am a crazy person who doesn't own one... Well, I get enough wave exposure at work when I heat up my leftovers and I have a small kitchen. Plus, we don't use it much anyway. I am not a huge fan of what it makes the food taste like either.

Ok, let's get started!

You will need:
- small saucepan with lid
- baby bullet, food processor, blender or hand blender (or elbow grease and a potato masher! haha)
- small containers to store food (like Baby Cubes)
- sharp knife and cutting board

Ingredients:
Meat- chicken breast, leg or thigh, turkey, pork tenderloin, beef sirloin, salmon fillet, egg (I use the entire thing, although some say not to give the whites before 1yr)
I usually buy what is on sale, because this is the most expensive part of groceries. I like to use lean meat because it cooks nicely and boils well. You usually have no ligaments or stringy fatty tissue that would be difficult to blend.
I always use a tendoriser when I boil meat, not MSG!! I'm talking garlic, onion, leeks, chives.
I also use flavours, consisting of fresh herbs (basil, parsley, sage, thyme, oregano, cilantro)

Fats- olive oil, cheese or butter
If something is too lean, you can always ad some flavour with butter or cheese. It also helps to smoothen the texture if you find it dry.

Vegetables- ALL
Fruits- ALL
Fresh produce is NOT expensive! I hate it when I hear people saying this. If you stick with what is in season, go to markets or farms directly, and if you buy what is on sale or featured, you will be just fine. Make sure you get a variety all the time and try to buy something new that you never used before or often (ex: okra, eggplant, artichoke, gourds). For these specialty items, perhaps wait until they go on sale :)
I also recommend having basic items stocked in the fridge like potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, lettuce/spinach/kale, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, lemon, broccoli/cauliflower (always have enough to make a salad). For fruits I always need banana, apple/pear and maybe grapes. If I am out of these, I definitely need groceries!

Grains- brown rice, quinoa, lentils, barley, buckwheat, beans, cracked wheat (bulgur)
Always have these grains in your pantry. They are handy if you don't have meat or protein at home. They also provide  nice way to thicken any dish.

Flavour- fresh herbs for savoury dishes, cinnamon and nutmeg for fruit compotes and garlic, onion, leeks, chives, mushrooms for umami!

Cooking meat:
Take your saucepan and roughly chop about 1 cup of meat. Add about half a cup of water, a quarter cup of onions (or other suggestion above), a tiny bit of salt and pepper and maybe some fresh herbs if you have any. Cover and let it boil at a medium heat until meat is soft and cooked all the way through.

Blend with your tool of choice. Add water or milk if needed. You may also add butter or cheese to thicken and smoothen.

Fill your containers and let cool before placing in the fridge/freezer.

Cooking fruits or vegetables:
Roughly chop any combination of vegetables or fruit, about 2 cups worth. Add about 1/2 cup of water and let boil at a medium heat. Don't over boil the vegetables/fruit, it's almost steaming them to ensure that you don't lose all the nutrients, but they are soft enough to blend.
You can add a tiny bit of salt and pepper, herbs or anything above that adds flavour (like onions, leeks…) to your vegetables and cinnamon/nutmeg to your fruits.

Blend with your tool of choice. Add more water or milk if needed. You may also add butter or cheese to thicken and smoothen.

Fill your containers and let cool before placing in the fridge/freezer.

~

The philosophy behind "Off Road Cooking" is getting used to being creative with what is in the fridge. We don't always have time to do groceries, but you should have enough basics in the fridge to make a healthy meal, even if it is a simple one. My "Off Road Cooking" posts are generally not planned but something I whipped up that day. Sometimes I get inspired by traditional dishes and I make them baby friendly (Thanksgiving meal or the Baby Borscht).

I hope I can encourage you to be more creative in the kitchen, not just for your baby but for you too!

Please share your comments below, I would love some feedback on my "Off Road Cooking" lifestyle :)

Off Road Cooking: a fancy feast

Some dinner inspiration for you all!

I haven't been home for a few days and today I decided to dedicate myself to little man's nutrition! We were visiting a friend in Thunder Bay and I fed V more store bought baby food than usual (Baby Gourmet is the brand I go for) which gave him terribly smelly number twos (sorry for the over share). I think this is why I felt compelled to cook up a storm.

I made him a very gourmet dinner which consisted of a three course meal:

1- White: Boiled chicken with onions, fresh parsley, sage and goat cheese

2- Red: Boiled beets with kale, red onion, lentils and zucchini3- Yellow: Boiled pumpkin, leeks, celery, and carrot with butter

Needless to say, little man gobbled this up. The entire thing! What a piggy. Sometimes he's a bottomless pit. He never says no, so I don't actually know what his maximum capacity is.

Anyway, as they say… Bon Appétit!

What's your favourite meal to prepare for baby? What are their favourite flavours? Please share your comments below!

Manduca: My experience with baby wearing

V at 8 months walking in the woods at Conroy Pit (Ottawa).
Beautiful place to walk, enough parking and fun entertainment for kids who don't have pets.
Wearing baby is easier on my back because I can see where I am going and he can fall asleep.
It's also easier to carry the extra weight. Warning: Baby wearing can get really warm!!

As promised, here is an update on my baby wearing experience. I bought the Manduca almost 7 months ago, but didn't really use it much because my son hated being carried! I had the intension of using it for a workout class with Fitmom Ottawa, but the timing wasn't right. In the end, it is serving its purpose but for an entirely different reason.

I entered the baby wearing scene thinking that it was just another thing you need on your list when you have a baby. Well, what I learnt is that baby wearing (in Ottawa, anyway) is considered a community (note, not a cult). I joined the "Ottawa Babywearing Group" to help me get advice on wearing my baby properly and teaching V to love it! They have weekly meet ups too which is a nice way to meet moms and babies! What I noticed though is that there seems to be different philosophies on whether you use a stroller or a carrier… don't want to start anything here folks, I USE BOTH!

For the first 3 month post natal, I had extreme pain in my wrists from taking care of V (holding baby, feeding with a bottle and pushing a stroller with your wrists bent). Tendonitis is very painful, especially at night. Your hands get swollen and cramp up. You need to pump your fingers to drain the extra fluid and stop the pain. I wore a brace to help keep my wrists straight. The awkward manouvres you do when holding a baby that can't support itself is more noticeable when you are restraint by a brace! When you have tendonitis, you can't do exercises like push ups, push a heavy stroller with your wrists bent or do any weight lifting.

By 3 months, V could hold himself up pretty solidly and the pain eventually went away. At almost 9 months, V is now the most curious creature on earth and holding him in my arms is now a workout in itself. Being a counter leaver for a 22 lbs baby is not a walk in the park. And guess who's back baby? Mr. Tendonitis!

This is were the carrier comes in! I have been using it more and more to avoid having to carry him in my arms if I am going "sans-poussette" to run a quick errand. Because I changed V's car seat (I'm using a Diono and no longer my Graco bucket seat) I need to take him out of it. I no longer have the option of taking out the car seat and placing it on the frame of my City Select. It's nice for him, because he can look around, or still keep napping if he falls asleep in the seat. I can appreciate that not all babies are like V, so this may not apply to all moms.

Yesterday, I had V in the carrier to run some errands at St-Laurent Mall, I actually forgot that the stroller wasn't in the trunk. It ended up being so quick and easy. He fell asleep, I did what I had to do and we were out of there in no time! The more I use it, the more he and I are loving it. 

My favourite part of wearing V is noticing that I can't help but pet his bum and kiss his face when he is so close to me :)

Have fun baby wearing! Let me know if you have questions or comments. Are you a strollerist? Do you have any babywearing advice?

Weekend trip to Thunder Bay with V. Used my Manduca because we forgot the stroller at the house.
In the end going to all the shops was pretty easy, no bumping and lifting the stroller into the store!
Warning: Baby wearing gets really warm, which is why we are not wearing jackets :)

Off Road Cooking: Ghoulish Inspiration

Boiled beets with red onion and brussels sprouts… baby Borsch!

In the spirit of Halloween, I decided to use beets for little V's next few meels. I love using seasonal produce, which is great on the wallet!

Beets are so amazing. Naturally sweet, full of antioxidants and high in fiber which is great for the digestive system.

I won't give him this everyday, because it can be a little too much for his number twos.

As I was cooking, I noticed the gorgeous colour staining my cutting board and thought... What a bloody mess? ( hehe pun intended!)

Have fun in the kitchen and please leave your comments or questions below.

Momma's night off: Food Network Chef Bucket List

I love The Food Network. I have been watching it for over 10 years now, before it became a hipster thing. That's how I learnt my confidence in the kitchen and of course where I was able to unleash my creative cooking. I have had the chance to meet some of my favourite chefs like Michael Smith and Chuck Hughes, and now I can add Janet Podleski to my list!

I asked my brother in law to look after V tonight so I could attend this free talk. Janet talked about the Looneyspoons story and the struggles they had to overcome to reach to the level of success they are at today. She also did a small Nutrition portion to the presentation which had very smart and obvious messages like:

• Eat real food, not processed food
• Avoid sugar and bad oils
• Be positive about your image and encourage yourself to eat well

Eat Shrink and Be Merry's Janet Podleski, my sis Tamara and I at the Ottawa Public Health Day Event 

Off Road Cooking: Gourds are gourd for you

Following my October post, I thought it would be nice to show you what I've been stirring up in my baby kitchen these days!

Victor is really loving gourds, who doesn't. I particularly love cooking with pumpkins or butternut squash. Not only are they delicious and creamy, they cook so fast and they are easy to cut and peel (I use a peeler). As you all know, gourds can be intimidating to cook with because the skin is so hard and bumpy. An easy trick is to use a good sharp knife, preferably with a ceramic blade. You can cut it in half, remove the seeds,  bake it first and peel the insides, or simply chop it up and steam. I have seen gourds being sold in cubes at the grocery store which is a nice way to eat healthy, save time and avoid the intimidation. Listen, I am all for short cuts, if the end result is worth it.

Last weekend, Victor ate his first traditional Thanksgiving meal which consisted of mash potatoes, turkey breast, brussel sprouts, stuffing and a teaspoon of cranberry sauce. He LOVED it! I brought the baby bullet at the in-laws since I had been anticipating this day for a while now. It was nice to have the evening off in the kitchen. When it came to desert, I felt bad watching V stare at my homemade pumpkin pie, so I gave him a bite of the middle... his arms kept flapping in the air while he rolled his wrists, which is the symbol for "YUM, I WANT MORE!".

Poor thing, I wasn't going to give him more sugar desert, but I did make this for him... my version of Baby Apple Pumpkin Pie.

Are you sick of Turkey leftovers yet? What's your favourite Thanksgiving dish? Are you finding it hard to catch up to the 4-day week? Good news, tomorrow is Friday!

Apple Pumpkin Pie (homemade apple and pumpkin puree in water with cinnamon and nutmeg) 

Thanksgiving and all things October

I think everyone has a soft spot for October. Think about it... it's harvest time, the leaves turn gold and red, the skarves and sweaters come out, turkey and all things pumpkin fills our belly and of course we are gearing up for Halloween!

No wonder it's such a busy time for everyone. I wish October was a longer month, it's so under appreciated.

It's Thanksgiving today and I'd like to take a minute to be thankful for my health, the health of my family, and last but not least my new little man V that has changed my life in oh so many ways!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and in V's favourite words.. Gobble gobble!

Bumps on the Road- The Event (part 2)

This is part 2 from my earlier post "Bumps on the Road- A woman's story"

Here is an open letter than I sent to my friends and family to help me fundraise for "Bumps on the Road 9K Walk for Pregnancy". At this point in my life it's very hard for me to separate my personal life with my professional one. The work that I do is so relevant, and some would say that it is that passion that drives me to love my job!

2012 BOTR Walk- Mayor Jim Watson, Me at 24 weeks
and Councillor David Chernushenko (Old Ottawa South)

Dear friends and family, 
As you know every year I organize the CFWH Bumps on the Road 9K Walk, it's an event that is very close to my heart.
Some of you may already know that I had a miscarriage almost 2 years ago. This walk was inspired by that tragic event and was created to support the issues that pregnant women can face.
Last year, it was bitter sweet, as I was pregnant with Victor and going through so much from pelvic pain, to swelling and even pre-eclampsia in the last couple of weeks. 

This year, I will have Victor by my side and will support the walk to help other women who may not have been as lucky as I was during my labour. 

I hope you can all join me on October 20th and walk not only for me, but for your children, your mother and you!
Please visit our website at www.bumpsontheroad.ca to make a donation or sign up for the event!
Don't forget to share this with your friends too and help us achieve our 9K for 9K goal!
Thank you in advance for your support and I hope to see you all there! Chantal 

If you would like to read more about how this event came to be, check out my in depth interview in 2011 with Local Tourist Ottawa here.

 

Bumps on the Road- A woman's story

You don't have to be a woman, have cancer or be pregnant to support women's health 

On the contrary, if you have been blessed with your health you should be the one to support loved ones affected by women's health issues and recognise that your duty is to help raise awareness for all the problems that may be encountered on the journey to womanhood: her bumpy journey.

Why is "Bumps on the Road" such an appropriate title for a woman's story? Well, it seems that women can not get away from them. Big or small, safe or alarming, metaphor or realistic a woman will be faced with many "bumps" from puberty to menopause and everything in between.

The Early Year Bumps- A young woman going through puberty will develop breasts, which later in life may become a threat to her health. As her hormones come flooding in, she may be blessed with a stubborn bumpy friend called acne. She will start thinking about her sexuality and will need to learn about ways to protect herself against any transmittable diseases like bumpy genital warts (HPV) that may lead to cervical cancer.

Planned and Unplanned Bumps- You made it through puberty, you finished school and all the drama it brings. You are set in your career, you are in a blossoming relationship and now you want a family. You may be among the lucky ones who gets pregnant on the first try and delivers a healthy baby without a breeze. You may be the one who struggles with Infertility or faces a devastating miscarriage or dare I say it: a stillbirth. You may have some challenges with your health and need to manage your endometriosis, fibroids, cysts and every other literal bumps that gets in the way.

Now you're pregnant and guess what? A whole new set of complications come rushing in. Don't get me wrong, pregnancy is a wonderful experience, but people surrounding you don't always understand all the issues and fear a woman can face during pregnancy, not to mention during her delivery. Genetic complications, hyperthyroid, hypertension, obesity, gestational diabetes and pre-eclamspia just to name a few.

"Pregnancy isn't fatal, why should I be alarmed?" It shouldn't be, but in most impoverished countries it is. Thankfully, we live in a country where we have access to quality care and have the privilege of surviving something so natural as childbirth. But truth be told, this is a whole other ballgame.

You survived childbirth, and now you have to take care of a new baby. You may struggle with depression, anxiety and may have bonding issues with your baby. You may have difficulty with breastfeeding or have to take care of a colicky baby while being sleep deprived. Not that I am trying to cut this paragraph short, but I am sparing you the details. I could write an entire book about all the life adjustments a new mom has to make while discovering the new person she has become.

The Later Year Bumps-  Not to alarm you, but it seems that as you get older the bumps in your life get bigger and scarier! While I am not in this part of my journey yet, I do know that I will have to face Menopause, and maybe even Osteoporosis. I will have to avoid deadly cancers on my breasts, ovaries and colon. I will have to ensure that I lead a healthy lifestyle and take care of my heart. All of this while I nurture my growing family and people around me. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill.

I am so lucky to be a woman, and even luckier to work for an organization that looks after my health and well being.

Please join me, on October 20th for the 3rd annual Canadian Foundation for Women's Health's "Bumps on the Road- A 9K Walk for Pregnancy" This year we have partnered with Life with a Baby and our local presenting sponsor Heritage Education Funds. Remember, you don't have to be pregnant to support the cause. We encourage men, women and children to participate. Come walk 9 km to honour the women in your life! Who knows, one day it could be you!

Why Starbucks is a new moms BFF

If you're pregnant and expecting soon, here is a list of things you should do or either start thinking about:

1. Locate all the Starbucks that are a either walking distance from you or a short drive away.
2. Buy a SB gift card.
3. Register said gift card and download the Starbuck app.

Why? Well, you will soon realize that Starbucks will be your home away from home once you have baby and you want to get out of the house. And because you will be spending a small fortune there, you may as well start earning points towards free drinks!

One day, you'll be walking along the street and you'll feel lost, because it's just you, baby and the fully loaded stroller. You spot a Starbucks and immediately you'll feel safe. Here's why:

1. You need to go to the washroom, check!
2. Baby needs a diaper change, check!
3. You need a cozy drink, a CUSTOM, cozy drink, check!
4. You have unlimited time in the world. No time limits, check!
5. You need to breastfeed. Find a seat on a cozy couch, check!
6. You need to bottle feed. Ask friendly staff for hot water in a cup for free, check!
7. You want a treat because you deserve one.  After all you gave birth to a human after carrying it for  40 weeks. Buy yummy treat, check!
8. You need entertainment. People watching, check!
9. You want to catch up on your phone. Free Wifi, check!
10. You wanna catch up with your mommy friends, check!

So, you're not just paying for an expensive drink after all... think what you are getting for your money! Not a bad way to spend your day if you ask me.

Don't get me wrong, I love supporting local shops, but sometimes they are not set up for the things we need most. I just gravitate towards Starbucks because they have consistent standards of service all across America!

Where do you like to hang out during maternity leave?