Dig Deeper -- The Before

Since having Francesco I have been determined to get back in shape and my pre baby clothes. I gained less weight with baby number two, but for some reason the areas that did gain, expanded in all sorts of unattractive directions.

As I am not great when it comes to calorie counting diets – I love food! And I am breastfeeding, I decided to go with a program that two of my girlfriends are also in the middle of completing.

 

‘INSANITY’!

 

It is through these posts that I will document my 60 day journey through the program. The workouts are gruesome and to be honest no one in their right mind would want to see me mid work out. I am sure the neighbors have imagined all sorts of scenarios that could be happening when they hear me cursing, grunting and telling the TV off! The glow after a workout is -- Well, not so atttractive but nothing feels better than the accomplishment of sweating it out.

 

This photo does not do the effects of my workout justice

So here they are... I am embarrassed to even be putting these up for the public to view, but I want to make sure that the results (please let there be results!) are documented! This is one of the hardest things that I have ever tried to achieve, and should I complete the program and have noticeable results... Let’s just say “SHOPPING SPREE”!!

 

 

Condo Living

As I haven’t blogged in quite some time, I thought I would talk about something that has been on my mind constantly and debated weekly in my household. I won’t lie, after watching ‘Sex in the City’ the movie (for the first time) last night, this topic has been on my mind more than usual today; Raising my babies in a busy city vs. the burbs.

As I have previously said, I come from a small city where I spent my nights at bars that would never be considered a “club” and my weekends out in the country drinking beer (out of cans) around a bonfire or taking the trucks through the mud – and I will be the first to defend growing up like this as I know that it helped shape the person I am today and I wouldn’t trade those overnights on the boats or the mosquitoes for anything.

Now that being said; I am set on my boys being raised in the city amongst the hustle and bustle and all the culture that goes along with it. I want them to experience all that a big city has to offer, and should they want to spend the weekends or summers back home with my parents – I encourage it.

Currently we live in a condo, and I do not own a vehicle. There are times that I wish that I was in a house with a garden or that I had a car, it would make everything easy – well I like the challenge LOL. Yes, in order to get the kids outside we can’t just run out the door or to go to the farmers market we can’t just jump in the car. Instead we take a little longer to get ready and pack the buggy with things we would never need if we were just out in the garden, but we also get to explore the city and find a new park to play in on our walks or a new cafe to have lunch in. Instead of jumping in the car we hop on the bus or the subway and this gives us time to talk and enjoy everything that we would otherwise miss should we be driving. I cherish having this time with my children, my babies are transit babies and they love the undivided attention when we are running errands and making our way to various destinations. Oh did I mention that I don’t make a car payment, I don’t pay insurance AND I don’t pay for parking... BONUS!

There are so many other positives to living in the city and I feel lucky that my boys will be able to experience everything that their little hearts desire. Yes there are negatives, but let’s be honest THEY HAPPEN EVERYWHERE! I have seen some horrible things happen back home and I have seen some horrible things happen here – it has nothing to do with location. Its a scary world out there no matter where you live

From mom of one to two -- the first three weeks

Well it's been quite some time since I posted... And I though that since I am at home for the next year I should really catch up on my blog and make it a regular part of my day -- when two small children allow of course!
I guess I'll start by the exciting news that three weeks ago my second son was born :) I couldn't be happier to have two healthy boys! He is thriving and getting so big so fast! And thank god big brother is slowly adjusting and welcoming his baby brother to our household! It's been a slow process, but not a difficult one.
I can't wait to write again, but right now lO needs to eat and get changed for bed. Night All xxx

Is there a "right time" to have baby number 2?!



As I sit here sipping my delicious candy cane hot chocolate I can't help but think about baby number two... And if there is a "right" time to once again embark on the nine month journey to mother hood for a second time. The whole time I was pregnant I always said that I wanted to wait until Tomasso was a year old to even start trying to get pregnant. However now that he is approaching toddler age I feel as though I am ready right now to give er another go.

Realistically speaking, now isn't the time. Mostly financially. I work Monday to Friday, however server hours are not as lucrative as people on the outside may think. I am lucky to get in 35 hours a week right now even though I picked up two kitchen shifts, and I believe you need 600 hours of insurable earnings from the year before your last day... I just found that number through google, however I had previously thought that it was 950 hours before your last day. If it is the 950hrs than I have a long way to go to successfully accumulate the hours before I even attempt to once again get pregnant. HOWEVER if it is only 600 than I can have those in as little as 20 weeks... Which would mean that I could once again attempt to get pregnant in April, which is kind of sounding like a good month.

The more I think about it, the more I am coming to the conclusion that there is no "right" time to get pregnant. Whether it is your first, second, or 10th... Having a baby is a miracle, but timing it doesn't always make it easier. I am not too sure that people are ever really ready for a baby, but that the sheer joy of finding out you're pregnant is what truly makes you ready?! Thoughts?!

Our first summer together... Going to miss our time outside

This being the first summer that I had with my sun we spent a lot of time outside. Mostly going for walks and enjoying the nice weather. Some days we would head to the pool and others to the park, but I was adament about getting him outside at lest for a small period each and every day unless it was raining. I sure didn't want to be cooped up in the condo all summer, and as young as he was this summer, I am positive he enjoyed his time outside aswell... I am not going to write in this blog... It is more just a scrapbook of our time out and about :)

Our first walk to Timmies

All smiles

Canada day at the beach

Franklins Garden

Chilling in his shade tent

"yup, I'm standing... no big deal mom"

There are so many more, but bed is calling my name. So they will have to wait :)

A cloth bum makes for a happy bum :)

Another decision that I made before giving birth to Tomasso was the one to purchase and use cloth diapers... It had been something that I had wanted to do before even thinking about having children and I was surprised to find myself shopping for cloth diapers months before Tomasso was due to arrive.

Now to be totally honest I have gone back and forth between disposables and his cloth diapers, and I always go back to cloth. I don't know why I continue to waste money on disposables... He always gets a red bum after one wear and I notice a huge difference in his sensitive skin when he is in a disposable. Partly because Nello still can't manage to properly change a cloth diaper, but that is no excuse. I definitely need to make more of an effort to keep him in cloth 99% of the time. He is much more comfortable in cloth and it is better for the environment as well as cheaper... More money in my pocket means that I get to shop more :)


 

To each their own, but I choose natural and organic...

As I said, the way in which parents raise their kids is their prerogative, I would never push my nutritional decisions on someone who didn't ask. With that being said, this is my blog so I will voice my opinion.

Sooo.... As of recently I have caught a lot of flack about how my husband and I choose to feed Tomasso. We have heard it all from; "how do you know organic is really better", or "why are you spending money on that" to "just feed him anything it isn't going to hurt him". And I get it, I as well am skeptical about certain organic products, but in all honestly if it is even just a fraction better for him than all the processed junk out there than I am happy.

Let's face it folks, Canada's youth today are getting unhealthier by the year. According to a recent study 26% of young Canadians are overweight or obese. Guys that is 1 in 4 youth ages 2 to 17. That number three decades ago was only 12%. That is an insane jump. Now I am not one to tell people how to raise their kids, or what they should or shouldn't eat, but I will not allow my child to be one of those statistics. It is insane, and in most cases the parents fault not the child's.

Today's society is one of convenience and getting things done quick. Even on important decisions such as meals. I understand that McDonald's is quick, and have apparently introduced healthy options, but it is still processed crap. As cruel and some people may think, as long as I can help it, my child will not be eating fast food. There are plenty of healthy alternatives that I am sure he will enjoy just the same without loading his body with sugar and preservative. Another thing that I will limit to "barely ever" is juice, the reports I have read on the sugar content and the harm it has done to children's teeth in disgusting there is no need for a child at any age to have that high of a sugar intake. And pop... HA that is not going to happen, there is nothing worse than watching a child down a can of pop... Only to ask for another. Tomasso drinks a ton of water daily and loves it, why would I substitute that for a glass of sugar?!

Before Tomasso was even born Nello and I discussed the fact that he would be raised on a natural as possible diet for as long as we could control it. Yes I buy him organic fruits and vegetables, and recently I even switched him to organic whole milk. His cereals, and even MumMums are organic and processed as little as possible. He eats whole grain breads and pastas. And when he is older and able to eat a wider range of foods I will buy even less processed for him. This is our decision as parents, and I am so sick of defending it and even arguing with people over it. I do not criticize anyone for their choices and find it highly annoying when people feel the need to criticize mine. I have absolutely no problem with a healthy debate or discussion on ANY topic... But most people seem to forget that everyone is entitled to an opinion: right, wrong, or indifferent....

I want my child to be healthy and happy and not have the health issues associated with being over weight or obese. I want him to have a long happy life and if that means being the mean parents who would rather him eat healthy than go the easy route such as McDonald's or Wendy's or any of the other fast food joints around than so be it... I guess that's us.