Category: Uncategorized

Transition From 1 to 2 Kids

.Reading time 12 minutes.

Update: We had our second baby in January of 2024! In this post I’m going to get real about how our transition has been from one to two kids. It’s been almost 2 years now since we welcomed Enzo, and here is how it’s going…

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only share products I personally recommend and use in my own motherhood journey. As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.

Enter Enzo

With Otto, everything felt brand new and a little fragile, like I might break the “rules” if I didn’t follow every wake window to the minute. With Enzo, I didn’t have the luxury of obsessing over the tiny details. Big bro still needed breakfast (and countless snacks), to get dressed for school, and someone to find his missing LEGO character.

Enzo arrived, and our family slowly transformed into a new shape. Not overnight (nothing ever does), but in that slow, steady way where one morning you realize the baby is smiling at his brother and you honestly can’t remember what the house sounded like without two sets of footsteps.

The Newborn Phase (Experience Helps)

Second time around, I wasn’t Googling every grunt or hiccup. I knew the difference between “fussy” and “overtired,” and I had a postpartum toolkit (products (paid link), a plan, knowing what to expect), that was already broken in. I’d done this body shift before (the soft middle, the night sweats, the nursing marathons). I had the baby gear, the nipple balm (paid link), and the snacks hidden in the nightstand.

It wasn’t effortless, but it was familiar. I’m not saying it was easier because it definitely was not; I was simply more comfortable with the challenges and more prepared for them. I could feed, burp, swaddle, and still remember to eat breakfast and prioritize showering.

You know how they say the second time around you kind of slow down and “enjoy” it more? Ah, but it’s true! I know how fast it goes by. It’s like you blink and baby is blowing out his first birthday candle. I made sure to breathe in that newborn scent more, and to appreciate the beauty of that stage. Sometimes, it was hard to do between being spit up on and not sleeping, but overall, having that mindset made things more positive for me.

Finally understand what “hands full heart full” means🥹

The First Few Months: Why 1 to 2 Felt Easier Than 0 to 1 (for me)

Going from no kids to one baby felt like jumping off a cliff and learning to fly mid-air. Going from one to two was more like adding a new lane to a road I was already driving. With Otto, I had zero idea what to expect. I prepared by researching baby products and creating an epic baby registry. For Enzo, I prepared by reading parenting books, attending couples’ therapy with my fiancé, and creating a plan for support. I set up a weekly meal delivery service with prepared foods for my lunches, and had groceries delivered to the door.

We developed a rhythm. We knew nights would be long and mornings would still come. We knew what kind of help actually helps, and to accept it when we get the offer. Something hard for me was learning to ask for help (I still have trouble) but this sort of forced me into it. And I’m glad.

A (Somewhat) Different Kind of Mom

People told me I’d loosen up with baby #2. I didn’t believe them, but I do now.

Screens? With Otto, I was all rules. With Enzo… let’s say Ms. Rachel made a few early cameos. Sugar? I delayed it the first time. The second time, it turns out little brothers can see cupcakes and ice cream. I don’t know if I am embarrassed or proud that Enzo’s first word was “cookie” (yes, it’s 100% true).

I learned about BALANCE. As an all or nothing type of person, this had been a big change for me, but I am embracing it.

Naps happened in the stroller, the car, the carrier, and I wasn’t stressed by this. I didn’t log every feed to the minute in my notes app. Bedtime is between 7 and 8 for the boys (but not a hard 7, like it was with just Otto). With one, it’s easier to be on a strict schedule (if you choose to). With two, flexibility forces its way in. It was uncomfortable for me at first, because I love structure and predictability. But I think the second time around it was kind of like watching my past self through a new lens. I realized that I had done this once already, and we are still standing. So whatever happens this time, I know we will figure it out.

Plot Twist: It Got Harder🥲

Things got more difficult when Enzo started moving. Two boys, both mobile, both going in different directions at the same time. Enzo always one split second away from grabbing something that could cause injury. That was my, “Ohhh, this is the part people talk about” moment. Chasing a toddler while negotiating with a preschooler is a sport no one televised but all parents should medal in.

Another thing that totally surprised me was just how obsessed Enzo would be with his older brother. Everything Otto does, Enzo wants to do. He copies everything he says, which is great sometimes, but not always. Otto plays with LEGO, while Enzo tries to put it in his mouth. Otto gets to ride in the car facing forward, while Enzo is still rear-facing. Otto playfully wrestles with Daddy, Enzo copies Otto’s “wrestling moves” and doesn’t realize they actually hurt. You can see where I’m going with this.

It’s harder in the sense that both boys need constant supervision, but I can’t be in two places at the same time. I try to play with them together as much as possible, but sometimes they don’t want to be doing the same thing. I find myself chasing Enzo while trying to keep tabs on Otto. I feel like I am a ping pong ball a lot of the time. The same goes for my attention and affection.

Boy Mom Thoughts

I can’t compare boys vs girls, but two boys has been… energetic, to say the least. Our living room often sounds like a wrestling match. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. There are crumbs everywhere, all the time. Our grocery bill is insane (I’m legitimately scared for when they are teens). It’s also hilarious. They invent games, laugh at jokes only they get, and copy each other in the sweetest and most dangerous ways (couch diving is their most recent endeavour).

There’s tenderness tucked inside the chaos, though. Overhearing the first “I love you” the boys say to each other. Big brother’s, “It’s okayyyy” after a fall. Cuddling with them in the early morning hours after they both crawl into bed with us.

The Hard Parts No One Sees

Two kids can mean feeling split down the middle — someone always needs you first, or they both need you at the same time (this one is so tricky, and happens more than I had anticipated). I had a lot of guilt in the newborn days with Enzo because naturally, I couldn’t spend as much one-on-one time with Otto. A lot of the time, help meant someone taking Otto out for dinner or for the day, and while it was helpful, I missed my quality time with him.

While I am always grateful, I am often depleted. While I have fun in most moments, I am often overwhelmed and overstimulated. While I love spending time with my family, I also crave quiet, alone time (and I usually feel guilty for doing so). A lot of mixed feelings come with being a parent, and for me they intensified with two.

Being honest: I don’t have a ton of solo time with my fiancé. Most nights we collapse on the couch and scroll while watching TV. On the nights we can go out, we go. I’m less anxious leaving now. It’s good for us, and it’s good for them to be loved by more than just us.

My Heart Grew (Like the Grinch)

When I was pregnant, I wondered how I could possibly love another baby as much as I loved Otto. Then Enzo arrived and I realized that love has no limits.

Watching them together is the reward. The way they are so alike and completely different. The way one goofy giggle triggers the other. The way a new person turns your family into a new story. It’s been like reading my favourite book all over again, but this time with more chapters and beautiful details.

If You’re About to Go From One to Two

All I can say is it will be worth it. You will never regret adding extra love and joy into your life. It is definitely a roller coaster but I’m enjoying the ride. Ups, downs and loops (lots of loops).

xx Maya

Otto’s Routine – 14 Month Old Edition

.Reading time 12 minutes.

The last routine I blogged about was Otto’s 9 month old routine, and to be honest not much had changed with it until he turned 13-14 months old. We were really getting used to it, but like everything with babies, it was just a season.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I truly love and use.

Having Otto on a routine has been amazing and challenging at the same time. On the one hand, we know what to expect and can plan around it. Bedtime is set, and I think the established routine helps with his sleep (he is finally sleeping through the night)! On the other hand, I sometimes feel like a prisoner to his schedule. I find it hard to be spontaneous and break out of naps and wake windows. Overall though, I think the positives of having a routine outweigh any negatives.

HERE IS OUR TYPICAL DAY…

6:30am-7:15am Wake Up – Otto wakes up like clockwork around this time. Sometimes he will wake up crying but a few times recently he’s woken up babbling and singing – it’s super cute. Daddy gets him and changes him, then brings him to me so I can breastfeed him in bed. After he’s done he will go into his crib again for some independent play. Some days it lasts longer than others, but generally he plays about 15-30 minutes. This means Carlo and I can shut are eyes for this little bit of extra time (every minute counts)!

7:45am/8am Breakfast – Breakfast comes a little earlier these days as Otto seems to wake up ravenous. I’ve noticed his appetite has definitely increased and I feel somehow our whole day revolves around food. I’ve stuck to my meal prep and always have tons of options in the freezer, especially for breakfast when we have little energy. Some of his favourite breakfast foods include: whole wheat toast with butter, scrambled eggs, fruit, homemade oatmeal mini muffins, English muffins with peanut butter, pumpkin pancakes… the list goes on!

8:30am-9:15am Get Ready/Play – After breakfast I clean Otto up and get him dressed and ready for the day. I try to keep things calm in the morning and have him play in his room with me (rather than running around the condo like he does the rest of the time😅). If you haven’t heard of Lovevery (#CommissionsEarned), I highly recommend their Play Kits – these are truly some of Otto’s favourite toys. They keep him focused and engaged and allow him to learn rather than become overstimulated too quickly.

Morning Playtime!

9:15am-10:30am Morning Walk – I love to get us out for some fresh air every day. We used to use this walk for Otto’s morning nap, but he has transitioned down to only one midday nap a day instead of two, so now these walks are purely for leisure. He loves to look at the squirrels, birds, and passing dogs! I also like getting my steps in, and of course, stopping by Starbucks. Some days I will take him to the grocery store or nearby shops, but usually we just walk through the neighbourhood parks.

10:30am Snack – After we get home Otto has a small snack. Like I said, our day kind of revolves around food. Some snacks he loves include: bananas and berries, unsweetened applesauce, crackers and hummus, Babybel cheese, and Love Child Organic Oaty Chomps.

Snack time!

10:45am-12pm Play (Home or Library) – Depending on how we’re feeling, we will either head back out and go to the library or stay home and play. We are so lucky to have such an amazing library just steps away from us, with a huge section for babies and kids to roam around and explore. I try to take advantage of this and go at least 4 times a week. It’s a great change of scenery for me too, plus Otto gets to meet and interact with other toddlers.

The library is one of our favourite places.

12pm Lunch – For lunch I will either heat up some leftovers from last night’s dinner, or prepare something simple. Some of my go to lunch foods for Otto include: chickpea pasta with sauce, chopped up cucumber with a splash of vinegar, homemade chicken broccoli fingers, smoothie bowls, toast with Swiss cheese… what can I say, he has great taste!👌🏻

12:30pm-2:30pm Nap – As I mentioned earlier, we are down to just one nap a day. It wasn’t the easiest transition but we are happy with how it is working out now. Ever since Otto turned one, he began refusing at least one of his naps every couple of days. It got to the point where it was exhausting trying to keep him on a two nap schedule when it just wasn’t working. Nap refusal can be very stressful because while you want your baby to rest, you can’t force them to sleep. So, we ended up extending our morning wake window to around 5 hours and doing one long midday nap. If you have read my blog post on Otto’s sleep, you’ll know he has only stroller or contact napped since he was 4 months old. This is still the case!

We have been contact napping for a very long time 😴

2:30pm Snack – Yup…another snack! I mean, who isn’t hungry after a long snooze? I also try to give him a bit of whole milk at this time (I say try because he doesn’t love it). You may have noticed I haven’t mentioned breastfeeding since the 7am feed, and that’s because I am gradually trying to wean Otto off of it. Breastfeeding has been one of the most challenging things I have ever done longterm and I am so relieved to be down to two feeds a day.

2:45pm-4pm Play (Home or Library) – If I haven’t taken Otto to the library yet, we usually go during this window of time. Otherwise, I will basically just follow him around the condo while he explores, moves objects into random places, and uses his Skip Hop walker/scooter. It’s a lot of running around for me!

4pm Prep Dinner – I will either put Otto in his playpen or have him sit on the kitchen floor with some “high value” items (safe kitchen utensils) while I prepare some food for the evening. He hates being in the playpen so I tend to have him in the kitchen with me, even though it ends up taking three times longer to do everything (picture him wandering off every few minutes and me having to grab him).

The potato masher is his favourite ☺️

5pm Dinner – Though we’ve tried to prioritize family meals, more often than not dinner ends up being either me or Carlo sitting with Otto while he eats. I find that we aren’t hungry at this time and there’s also something so relaxing about eating in peace, on the couch, after Otto is asleep. Eventually this will change as he goes to bed later, but for now this is what works. He’s also extremely hangry by this point so 5pm dinner for him it is! Side note, if you’ve never seen a hangry toddler… well I wouldn’t recommend it!

5:30pm-6:30pm Family Walk – After dinner we usually take a long walk to wind down before the end of the day. It’s often hard in the winter months to do this because it’s so dark and freezing, but in the spring we have definitely been taking advantage of the mild evenings.

I love our fam❣️

6:30pm-7:00pm Bath/Nurse/Bed – We’ve continued our nightly baths since Otto was a newborn and he absolutely loves them. He really enjoys the water which I credit Carlo for; he’s been taking him swimming in our condo pool every couple of weeks since he was a few months old. We also recently enrolled Otto in Guardian Swim at our local city pool and he is really loving those classes too! So it’s no wonder he loves the bath! After the bath Daddy will pass him off to me to feed him and put him to bed. He generally goes down pretty quickly and easily (unless he’s teething or something else is bugging him). After he’s in his crib, it’s Mom and Dad’s time to chill out and relax (or work out, or do more work, or do laundry…)!

Days with an “infant-toddler-hybrid” are long and exhausting but they are hilarious and exciting as well. Though I am tired, I do enjoy this stage. I find it so fascinating to watch Otto learn and grow. Every day I feel like he wakes up a little different and with something new about him.

xx Maya

Baby Sleep – a Rollercoaster

.Reading time 12 minutes.

When you’re pregnant, you frequently hear people say things like, “Enjoy your sleep now cause when the baby’s here…” and, “If you think you’re tired now just wait…” But really, until you experience it, these comments don’t mean anything. You can’t put into words how truly insane the experience of baby sleep (and everything that encompasses) is. But I’m about to try…

1. Newborn Phase

The first few months I pretty much just survived. No one in the house was sleeping (including poor Bailey). Daytimes I was barely functioning, and nighttimes felt like they dragged on forever. Otto would breastfeed every 60-90 minutes throughout the night, and I was lucky if he would go 2 hours, but that didn’t happen very often. He also had reflux, which interfered with his sleep big time. We had to hold him upright for 30 minutes after every single feeding, even throughout the night. So when you do the math… he fed for 20 minutes, held him for 30… then woke up every hour to hour and a half… carry the 2 and you have zombies for parents.

I remember thinking, “I’ll never sleep again,” and honestly believing it. I would have killed for four straight hours of sleep in a row at that point. I envied those parents who were blessed with those rare babies who just somehow sleep in long stretches since birth (unicorn babies I think they’re known as😅).

During the day I didn’t bother with a set schedule in this phase. I just knew he slept a lot and that was normal for newborns. Most of his naps were in his bassinet or in my arms. I have never been much of a napper myself so I struggled with the whole “sleep when the baby sleeps” thing. I found it really difficult to sleep during the day no matter how tired I was. I wish I had been able to because God knows I absolutely needed the rest.

The exhaustion is totally worth it ❣️

2. Nap Trapped

Once Otto was about 4 months old, I found us naturally getting into a bit more of a routine. I knew he needed 4 naps a day and I was pretty good about reading his tiredness cues. I also started learning about wake windows/the appropriate times a baby should be awake for one period of time. This ultimately led me to becoming a bit obsessed with his naps and made it difficult to do or plan anything. I would constantly be checking the time, not going far on walks, and had trouble telling people what time would be best to visit. This is also known as being nap trapped! I know many new parents struggle with this and it’s easier said than done to just ease up. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems intense and crazy. But as a new mom, you’re just trying to do what’s best for your new baby.

Another significant development that happened during this time period was Otto learning how to roll over. For a while, he was able to roll from his back to his stomach, but not from stomach to back. So during naps, he would roll onto his tummy, and wake up screaming because he was stuck. I got in the habit of running in to save him, and letting him finish his nap in my arms. It slowly just became me not even bothering to put him down for his naps. At first it was sweet, but after a while a baby who ONLY sleeps in your arms can become quite debilitating. Especially when he naps 4 times a day, every day.

Slowly, he dropped down to 3 naps (around 6 months) which did make things slightly easier, but that’s also when teething began😫.

3. Teething

Nothing will disrupt your happy, sweet baby like teething. Every baby will get their teeth at different times, so you can’t plan for it. Even if you could, it wouldn’t make it that much better. After Otto’s first couple of teeth popped out, I found myself wondering how on earth we were going to go through it again for every other tooth (20 times basically).

Otto got his first teeth just before he turned 6 months old. While it was really exciting, it was also really rough. The ordeal lasts about 2 weeks – a few days leading up, about a week while the teeth are surfacing, and then a few days after they have come in. The worst part for me was watching Otto handle all of this and know how painful it must be for him. Teething meds, Tylenol, teething toys and cold/frozen items can only go so far. At some point it just is what it is – awful!

In terms of sleep, we were rocked. After longer stretches (4-5 hours at night) had become more regular, he was once again up every 60-90 minutes and would not settle. There were a few nights in a row I remember having to spend the night on the recliner with him. During the day he was basically glued to me. He just needed to be held and cuddled. We had been going on long walks before that, where he would usually take at least one nap in his stroller, but he couldn’t even tolerate this. He would just become inconsolable after 15 minutes and I would have to rush back home to comfort him.

The good news is, things went back to normal. We were almost at our wits end when suddenly everything seemed to be just fine again (until the next teething episode)!

4. We Didn’t Sleep Train

There is SO much pressure to sleep train your baby. From visits to the paediatrician telling us to do cry it out, to getting bombarded with Instagram accounts promising to have us sleeping if you purchase their program, to friends and family who have had babies preaching about their sleep training methods – this topic has been so overwhelming.

We gave it a few tries here and there but it always ended in me feeling so guilty and awful. I couldn’t stand to hear Otto cry – and I’m not giving myself an award for that or anything. I know other moms hear their babies cry while sleep training and it sure as hell isn’t pleasant for them. Call me weak but I just couldn’t get through it. Do I regret it? Yes and no. If I could have seen the future and known how rocky sleep was going to be over the next few months, maybe I would have succeeded with sleep training. But I also can’t regret my actions of rushing in to comfort Otto; it doesn’t make me a bad mom.

I don’t think Dad minds the contact naps so much!

5. Where We Are Now

Otto is currently 11 and a half months old (I KNOW, crazy right😳) and recently his nighttime sleep kind of naturally sorted itself out. It’s not perfect, but it feels like we’re all getting a bit more rest and there is some consistency to his nights. He has a bath around 6pm, I nurse him, and he’s usually asleep in his crib by 6:30-7:00pm. Once in a while he will protest and need a bit more milk but generally he goes down easily. Some nights he will wake up around 9/10pm for a quick feed before the rest of the night, but usually he just stays asleep until the morning. He always wakes up around 5am to feed, but he goes right back into his crib after for another couple of hours. At least we can count on that!

During the day, he is on two naps; one around 10am and the other around 2pm, for an hour each. Let me tell you, going from three to two naps really helps with being able to structure our day and do a little bit more. It’s still restrictive, but not as much as when he was on three naps. The issue with his day sleep is that he still doesn’t sleep in his crib. I know, it sounds nuts that an almost one-year-old doesn’t nap in his crib. We have tried though. We went through a 3 week phase of trying every single nap (twice a day, every day) putting him in his crib. He cried and screamed and protested every single time, relentlessly. I gave up after 3 weeks because again, I couldn’t stand listening to his cries. So currently we do his first nap in the stroller which I love, because I get my 10K steps in (Bailey loves it too). Second nap, he’s on me or Dad. Maybe as he gets a bit older this will finally change but for now it is what it is!

So as you can see, baby sleep is not a one size fits all thing. It’s quite a journey and every baby is different. Sending out good sleep vibes for you and your family!!

xx Maya

Otto’s Routine – 9 Month Old Edition

.Reading time 15 minutes.

I thought I was going to be that super chill mom who brings her baby everywhere, just adding him into my life with no stress. Turns out, I am the exact opposite!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only share products I personally recommend and use in my own motherhood journey. As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Creating a routine for my son did not come quickly or easily to me. It happened somewhat naturally along the way, but not until he was about 8 months old. Before then, we paid attention to wake windows and hunger cues, but it was hard to predict times for pretty much anything. We knew how many naps a day he needed, when bedtime would roughly be, and tried to base our days off of this.

Now that Otto is just over 9 months, and he’s FINALLY dropped down from three to two naps a day, we have him more on a schedule these days than ever before. While it has been challenging trying to make plans and have somewhat of a normal life, I definitely notice that the schedule we have fallen into really works for Otto (which therefore works for us as a family)!

I’m going to break down our typical day. Keep in mind every day is a little bit different and of course things will come up that may interfere with the schedule. We do our best to work around Otto’s routine and put him first before anything. It’s a sacrifice, but I know this phase is temporary, and soon enough the baby days will be over. Also, I want to stress that this is what works for us as a family. This might look entirely different than what you are doing with your baby, and that’s okay! I am simply putting this out there for anyone who is interested 🙂

6:00am-7:15am Wake Up – Sometime between these hours, Otto gets up and is ready for the day to begin. It’s usually around 6:30am, and the days he sleeps past 7:00am we count ourselves lucky. I feed him in bed, and then he plays (either in his playpen or we go to his room), until breakfast.

8:30am Breakfast – We almost always do breakfast at exactly this time since Otto’s already been up for a while. Some of his favourite breakfasts are: oatmeal with peanut butter and fruit, pumpkin pancakes, toast with almond butter, scrambled eggs, French toast, avocado… it really depends on what we have in the fridge and what we have time to prepare that morning.

9:00am Get Ready – After breakfast, Otto gets cleaned up because his eating can get very messy. We are doing the Baby-Led Weaning approach which involves allowing him to be in control of his meals; food naturally ends up everywhere. Thank goodness we have Bailey to help with clean-up😅. After he’s washed, I get him dressed (which for some reason he hates). Seriously, anytime I try to put a shirt on him he freaks out. He is getting SO strong, and twists and turns so aggressively which can make such a simple task quite difficult! Once he is dressed, I’ll offer to breastfeed him. Sometimes he goes for it, sometimes not. I always try though because our next “event” is a long walk and the last thing I want is to cut it short.

9:30am-11:00am Morning Walk + Nap (2-in-1)! This is one of my favourite parts of our day. We’ve been doing this consistently for months now and we all love it. It’s so important to get outside, enjoy some fresh air, and get moving. Otto loves being in the stroller and I love getting my steps in. Having Bailey is also a huge reason we do this; we literally can’t say no to our walks! If I haven’t had my morning coffee yet I’ll stop by Starbucks and get something to go – yet another benefit of getting out! I don’t know when this started but for a long while now, Otto has been passing out on these morning walks somewhere around 9:45am-10:00am and sleeps anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour. I find it has become one less thing for me to worry about. Knowing I don’t have to battle him to get his nap in at home really takes some of the day’s stress off me. Nap time is definitely one of the things I have struggled with as a new mom, but that’s another blog post!

We love our morning walks

11:00am Snack – Once we’re back home, Otto gets a very small snack. We only started adding snacks in to our food routine pretty much right before he turned 9 months. I could tell he seemed to be getting hungrier before meals, so I decided to try offering something small at least an hour before his next meal so not to spoil his appetite. Some snacks he loves are: cucumber slices with hummus, Little Bellies puffs (#ad), a strawberry or piece of banana, a small piece of toast with butter. After his snack once again I will offer to nurse him.

11:15am-12:00pm Play – Playtime has become such an integral part of Otto’s day. He absolutely loves crawling around and exploring. He recently started pulling himself up to stand so he is having fun with this new skill as well. Sometimes I will sit with him while he independently plays and other times I will totally get right into it with him, depending on his mood.

12:00pm Lunch – Again, we do lunch at this exact time pretty much daily. Some of Otto’s favourite lunches are: cauliflower fritters, chicken-broccoli fingers, smoothie bowl with toppings, sautéed ground beef and smashed avocado, baked salmon… once again, depends on what we have prepped and available. I meal prep for Otto once every 2-3 weeks so that there are always a few options in the freezer. It makes life so much easier when you can just grab something and have it ready in 15 seconds.

12:30pm-2:00pm = Different Every Day! If we’re staying home, we will go back to playing. If we need to get groceries, now is our time to go. Sometimes we will have a visit from family or friends during this time.

2:00pm-3:00pm Nap 2 – This timing really does vary day-to-day. Otto will nap anywhere from 1:30pm-4:00pm for about an hour. I look out for his tiredness cues (getting grumpy, rubbing his eyes, not being interested in play). We do contact naps (see my blog post about baby sleep to find out how this came about), so I settle into the recliner with him and grab a book. I took up reading again ever since he started exclusively napping on me and it makes the hour pass by a lot faster than just scrolling on my phone. He also usually feeds on and off while he’s napping on me.

I do cherish these moments ❣️

3:00pm Snack 2 – After he’s up he’s hungry (almost hangry). I pick something from our faves and make sure it’s different than what he had for his morning snack. Strawberries are a fave of his.

3:15pm-4:00pm Walk – We usually go on a second walk around this time as it’s good to get out of the house (especially if we haven’t since the morning). It’s not as long as the first one and I’ll take a different route to change up the scenery.

Here we go again!

4:00pm-5:15pm Play – Yes, more play! I’m truly shocked by how much mental and physical energy babies have. They are constantly learning and taking in every little thing. I love watching Otto learn and get curious. I also love to get involved and use this time to goof around and attempt to make him laugh. If you haven’t heard your baby laugh yet, I promise when you do, it is the most magical thing in the world. Otto seems to already have such a sense of humour and laughs a lot throughout the day. At least someone thinks I’m funny😅.

5:15pm-6:00pm Dinner – We try whenever possible to have dinner as a family, but sometimes it ends up being Carlo or me sitting with Otto while he eats. If I haven’t had a moment to myself all day, I sometimes use this time to workout or go for a solo walk. Otherwise we enjoy sitting together and sharing a meal! What Otto eats for dinner varies so much. Our family meals are fairly simple and usually involve a protein, vegetable or potatoes/rice, and a salad.

Tonight’s menu: salmon, steamed broccoli and carrots with butter

6:00pm Bath – We’ve been doing bath time before bed since Otto was a newborn. We started when his umbilical cord fell off and we haven’t missed a day since! We don’t use soap every single day, but even just the warm water is so soothing for him. He LOVES the water and it really helps him to wind down and let him know the day is coming to an end. My absolute favourite bath product right now is babyganics Shampoo & Body Wash (#ad (Fragrance Free) – it’s so gentle and leaves his skin soo soft!

6:30pm Bedtime – After the bath we use a gentle lotion on him and then get him into his onesie and sleep sack (these are our fave) (#ad). I breastfeed him and he usually falls asleep within a few minutes if he’s really tired. Sometimes it takes up to half an hour to get him to sleep but it’s gotten easier recently. Once he’s out, I’ll put him in his crib in his room and make sure it’s nice and dark in there. We have our Hatch sound machine on a timer from 6:30pm-7:30am every day for some white noise in the background. Otto’s bed and bath routine is a non-negotiable at this point. It has taken Carlo and I a long time to establish this routine and it’s a relief knowing we can at least count on him getting to sleep at a set time. It does hinder us from doing much in the evenings but as I said earlier, it’s a temporary phase. Otto still doesn’t sleep right through the night (he’s up 1-3 times for a feed) so we don’t stay up too late but we do enjoy our evenings chilling out on the couch watching Netflix☺️.

And that’s our routine! It might seem pretty intense, but really the day kind of just flows naturally into this. Having a schedule helps me keep Otto on track to make sure he’s well fed, well rested, and content. I’m sure things will evolve as he gets older, as they have continuously changed since he’s been born, but for now we’re happy with what we’re doing!

Xx Maya

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Allow Me to Introduce Myself!

.Reading time 4 minutes.

Being a new mom, I breastfeed my baby quite often. I started “journalling” into my iPhone notes while feeding him, because I had so much running through my head, and I couldn’t really do anything else with my hands (and the online shopping was getting excessive)! I decided to translate those notes into this blog.

Being a first time mom has been life changing, and I know navigating the process alone can be tough. That’s why I wanted to share a piece of my life with other moms. If any of my journey can help you in some way, this blog has achieved its goal.

I will be sharing REAL life stuff – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Motherhood is a huge mix of all of this, and I don’t intend on sugar coating it!

So, who am I?

Well, of course, I am a mom. I gave birth to my first baby, a boy, on February 8th, 2021. His name is Otto, and I couldn’t be more in love.

I am engaged to an absolute catch of a guy – Carlo. It’s the type of relationship I pictured my entire life but didn’t know I would actually find. I am one lucky girl.

Carlo, me, and Otto. The fam!

I spent the majority of my 20s working in restaurants. It gave me the flexibility to choose my own hours and live a non-conventional lifestyle. It was fun, exhausting, and I made a lot of friends along the way.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto and a Post Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Humber College. I really had no idea what I wanted to do for the longest time! Although I am not working in either of these fields, I am very proud of my education. I am currently working in the Arts & Entertainment industry as a Bookings Coordinator (on mat leave).

One of my biggest passions in life is music – specifically singing and songwriting. For a while, I tried really hard at pursuing a career in music. I attended international songwriting camps, recorded original songs in multiple studios, released music on Spotify and other major platforms, and performed at local venues. I don’t think I’ll ever really give up on music, though at the moment it’s become more of a hobby as my priorities have shifted quite a bit recently!

I love traveling (sadly, I haven’t in a while due to COVID). Some of my favourite places so far have been Bali, Spain, Laos, Amsterdam, Nicaragua, and Tulum. My most memorable trip was a solo vacation to Caye Caulker, Belize. I can’t wait to hop on a plane again and explore some more new places!

I have a beautiful English Cream Golden Retriever named Bailey. She is honestly the sweetest, quirkiest dog you will ever encounter. I got her for my 25th birthday, and she is almost 9 years old now.

Me and Bailey

Some of my other hobbies include baking, crafting, and fitness. I love staying active by walking around the neighbourhood, hiking, and getting in home workouts whenever I can.

Above all I love spending time with family. My perfect Friday evening involves cooking or ordering dinner, a bottle of wine (pre-baby), a movie in the background and playing Scrabble. This looks very different with a 3 month old baby but eventually I’ll start having more of these nights again (I think?)!

I hope this gives you a bit more of an idea about who I am, and who is behind the blog!

xx Maya