tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90419422950455406952011-11-24T14:43:33.291-08:00Vancouver Baby Blog by owner of Babymoon Parenting and Editor of "The Babymoon Buzz" talking to Lower Mainland parents about Vancouver parenting resources. Organizer of the Vancouver pregnancy seminar, Pregnant in the City. Vancouver baby and Toddler classes, parenting articles, skills, advice and parent tips.Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.comBlogger431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-88670225933028751082011-04-13T11:15:00.000-07:002011-10-22T13:37:54.594-07:00

Please visit our new site at  http://www.babyclassesvancouver.com if you are not redirected in a few seconds.

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-1117328731060080092011-04-08T13:44:00.000-07:002011-04-08T13:44:25.860-07:00

Congratulations Jennifer Peters from Coquitlam who won the Babymoon Bag! I visited with Jennifer and (the very sweet and beautiful) Jamie on Wednesday. Thank you to everyone who signed up for the Babymoon Buzz during March. We hope to be providing you with even more information about family services and great parenting resources in the days to come!

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-49428017613678496592011-04-01T10:51:00.000-07:002011-04-13T10:43:27.627-07:00

Photo by Gemini Visuals Once a year I drag the family out for family portraits. My son inevitably picks that day to complain or whine about everything including the shirt he has worn a million times before. He is grumpy, hungry and has to go potty as soon as he hears the first click of the camera. As I began to plan our next family portrait, I began to think about how to make this day better (

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-1787170312357418682011-03-12T10:51:00.000-08:002011-03-12T11:29:31.203-08:00

Jennifer King, Clinical Hynotherapist Hynomamas HypnoBirthing is a unique method of relaxing your mind and body during childbirth.  Self-hypnosis provides women the option of a more comfortable birthing process not only physically but mentally as well. Jennifer King gives an introduction to  HypnoBirth and HynoBabies and explains  the benefits for you and baby. If you are looking for a way to

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-89609975629214356322011-02-28T12:19:00.000-08:002011-02-28T12:21:02.898-08:00

By: Elisa Peterson,  Mom, BA, RMT About 18 years ago I began a life-changing journey full of ups, downs and sometimes sharp- unexpected turns.  With the birth of my first of four wonderful children, I set out with full sails. Raising my children has been a rewarding and life-giving experience. And simultaneously, brought me the most tiring periods of my life I have yet to experience again.

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-52080982274056781802011-02-15T15:59:00.000-08:002011-02-16T12:01:11.805-08:00

Article by Cameron Phillips Bettermen Solutions I am fortunate enough to know a wonderful man and fellow “dadvocate” named Brian Reid. Brian was an at home dad living in the US who started a blog called rebeldad.com.  He built the site to be a resource center and place of community for at home dads, since the world of parenting was (and still is) 99.99% geared towards mothers. Brian has had an

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-4498963643932787612011-02-02T07:35:00.000-08:002011-02-02T10:13:40.678-08:00

As the owner of an eco-friendly e-boutique, I’m often asked how individuals can buy ‘greener’ for themselves and their families. It’s tricky to answer that because there are several different and important issues to consider, notably the quality of the food we eat, the safety of the products we use on our bodies every day, the ingredients contained within the products in our immediate environment

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-70213441783863280082011-01-25T08:02:00.000-08:002011-01-25T08:03:38.180-08:00

Mark, Harriet and Theo By Harriet Fancott Here is the quickie version. My husband Mark and I intended to adopt internationally (from Lesotho) but after eight months of bureaucratic hiccups, we set our sights closer to home. On Friday, we sat in a JJ Bean café quaffing Americanos and wrote up our profile and Dear Birthmother letter. We made 20 copies, tucked them inside shiny silver folders and

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-18036213578249128212011-01-20T20:48:00.000-08:002011-01-22T13:28:40.408-08:00

Nursing mom without a cover         I was hugely disappointed after reading an article that one of my facebook friends posted today written by Shelley Fralic of the Vancouver Sun. It was, without a doubt, the harshest, most ignorant opinion on breastfeeding in public I have seen in a very long time.         The article begins in a brutally scathing tone “If it's a brand new year, it must surely

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-34305810390587255242011-01-17T20:28:00.000-08:002011-01-18T07:34:16.317-08:00

        Choosing a babysitter can be one of the most anxiety ridden jobs a new parent can face.  Many of us don’t have the luxury of an eager grandparent or keen family members to call upon and the thought of finding someone we trust is at times overwhelming.  Let’s face it, we all love our kids but we also need a much deserved and long overdue break from time to time.  A little time away can do

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-34147952383274591942011-01-04T16:34:00.000-08:002011-01-04T22:17:47.583-08:00

Good Blogs don't just appear out of thin air. They take time and commitment and with love and care, grow into these fantastic living type journals filled with valuable experiences and information. This blog is no different. From my personal journeys and learned lessons to the amazing professionals I am fortunate enough to work with, these are our favorite blog articles from last year. finding

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-71907890342775865372010-12-20T09:16:00.000-08:002010-12-20T09:35:29.455-08:00

Article by Marcia Jones, CMA  As parents, we can nurture our growing baby through the simple act of placing our baby on their tummy on the floor during play time. Tummy time is a significant part of a baby’s quest to learn independent locomotor movement. Your baby learns how to move by exploring gravity through yielding to it and learning to push against it. Just like astronauts who need to

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-73022043908670905902010-12-17T18:11:00.000-08:002011-01-04T22:34:23.683-08:00

Anyone who blogs will tell you that you have to constantly consider the fact that you might be telling the whole world too much personal information and that we bloggers generally fall on the side of caution. I have decided to throw caution to the wind on this particular subject and share my personal experience about breastfeeding our adopted son. I have been quiet about it for years (most people

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-4848078144980133292010-12-07T07:57:00.000-08:002010-12-07T10:26:05.202-08:00

by Kate Hutchinson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist I went to a Santa Claus parade with my seven-year-old son last weekend. All was going well until the first floats began to pass by and our previously prime parade route spots, transformed into front row seats for a disheartening exhibition. Most of the kids poured off the sidewalks and stationed themselves in the middle of the street for the

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-39988192876209341152010-11-30T14:39:00.000-08:002010-12-04T15:44:21.902-08:00

It's the things I learn from other parents that seems to get me through the tough stuff and this year I want to share one of my all time favorite golden nuggets from a Mom I met in Washington a few years ago. It is my biggest secret to a successful Christmas and I call it my "Grown-up Christmas List". This list is not a list of presents I want, but a list I add to and edit every year as a

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-42825173320047451922010-11-19T10:35:00.000-08:002010-12-04T15:34:01.040-08:00

StoryogaTM - a unique and innovative program for parents & young children... Have you ever considered yoga for your child but thought, “How can he/she possibly sit still long enough?” If so, you’re not alone; the good news is, yoga for children is much different than the yoga you may have experienced, as a parent/adult. Yoga for children, and more specifically, StoryogaTM, recognizes and embraces

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-25408281697368574532010-11-11T08:40:00.000-08:002010-11-11T09:03:00.044-08:00

Article by Kelly Spec, Registered Dietitian - Spectrum Nutrition Instructor at Babymoon Parenting Is your toddler a 'picky eater'?  Or not eating at all?  The biggest mistake I see parents make is thinking their child's picky eating is just the child's personality when in fact, the issue usually stems from how the parents are feeding their toddlers. The process of feeding your child is based

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-52334509670095278212010-10-18T19:10:00.000-07:002010-11-11T08:48:46.453-08:00

Five years ago when my husband and I were adopting we learned a lot about appropriate language surrounding adoption. Might sound silly but oh, so necessary. For those of you who have family or friends who have adopted, this is for you. For those of you who are adoptive parents, this is for you as well as please remember nobody really means to say something rude or inappropriate. This blog post is

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-63529316548347305832010-08-05T14:50:00.000-07:002010-08-05T14:51:37.122-07:00

Latin dance class has moms shaking their butts, babies shaking their rattles. Sarah Taylor preferred the merengue, squealing with joy when the rhythmic music started up. Felix Droste definitely liked the salsa best, his smile growing as he gibbered away. Jack Parker did not discriminate -- he shook his short, chubby legs to whatever music was playing. All three were literally drooling with

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-36397236431602951262010-06-29T12:36:00.000-07:002010-06-29T14:30:35.928-07:00

Travelling with kids can be stressful but a little planning ahead of time always saves us. Snacks - We always save a few special treats just for travelling. These are things that he doesn't get very often but looks forward to asking for once we are on the plane or in the car. Keep the sugar content down as you don't want them spiraling mid flight! I like to use paper bags for packing snacks

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-2488206063413491752010-06-22T08:35:00.000-07:002010-06-22T08:48:16.144-07:00

We did it- The Family Dine In Challenge is complete!  We are so happy that we did this and it has meant some big changes to our family. Three weeks was enough time for us to realize how much we were spending on eating out, the bad stuff we were eating and how much more comfortable we are at dinner time when we are at home. Here are some interesting things we learned.... Money - Every time we go

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-46701189225418051692010-06-16T13:32:00.000-07:002010-06-16T17:31:53.524-07:00

Family Dine In Challenge Update Two weeks have gone by without eating out at a restaurant! The only time eating out crosses my mind is when I feel rushed to cook or the refrigerator is looking a little empty, but we are still managing! Well, that and sometimes I get a craving for something (see previous update on Sushi) but I find something that will cover the cravings at the grocery store and

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-38966946308566097222010-06-11T08:56:00.000-07:002010-06-12T09:18:19.301-07:00

Who's big idea was this Dine In Challenge anyway!? Oh that's right, mine. Today is day twelve of the challenge and as of last night, this is officially getting old. I am relieved at what we are eating while on the challenge but, I also really miss the CONVENIENCE of picking up the phone to have someone deliver food or the ease of "let's just walk up the street and eat sushi".  I was tired and a

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-34486516368149473062010-06-07T13:09:00.000-07:002010-06-07T13:44:48.664-07:00

Family Dine In Challenge-part 3 - Day 6  We made it through the weekend without eating out! It is possible. It can be done! My husband and I took my son to see the "real" Thomas the train on Saturday and with exception of a little fit my son had over not getting any cotton candy (blek) everyone did really well. My husband indulged in some lemonade and I managed to pass up the mini doughnuts.  How

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-63111741735940182852010-06-04T09:27:00.000-07:002010-06-04T09:52:16.956-07:00

The "Family Dine In Challenge" started June 1st and although the first few days haven't been much of a challenge, I can already see a few things happening. The time of day you leave the house to run errands, go to work, go to school, go out for fun is, of course, related to how much you eat out. I had appointments all day on Wednesday and my thought that morning was "I will just pick up something

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-56961631080955861462010-06-02T09:53:00.000-07:002010-06-02T10:03:59.461-07:00

Yesterday I watched my son play with adorable twin boys at the park. They were about 18mos younger than he is but, boy howdy, did they have fun! It took them a while to start playing together, but my boisterous little guy just kept saying "hey you wanna play?" The boys never really answered but they kept playing until eventually the twins mother said in a beautiful accent "my boys don't speak

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-24310284098858095142010-05-31T16:09:00.000-07:002010-05-31T16:24:34.906-07:00

I proposed a "dine in" challenge to my husband and five year old last week and they agreed! Starting tomorrow, no eating out for 3 weeks! This might sound like a small challenge to some of you but we eat out several times a week and I really am tired of the fat, salt, meat ("not that there is anything wrong with that" to quote Seinfeld) and all the other things that come in restaurant prepared

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-40439902931731506182010-05-31T08:56:00.000-07:002010-05-31T09:39:49.835-07:00

I LOVE baby gear. I love every new stroller, car seat, breastfeeding helper, rain protector and fashionable diaper bag with matching change pad, but, there is a lot of baby gear to choose from these days and how do you know what you need? Is one brand better than the other? Safer? Can you take it on an airplane? Does it fit in a diaper bag? This could go on for days. Here is the best advice I

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-163168693028242662010-05-25T06:17:00.000-07:002010-05-28T11:57:45.599-07:00

My husband’s mother passed away October '09 and the sorrow to the family has been great. The connection she had with our son was strong, very loving and when she was diagnosed with Cancer the thought of that connection possibly being lost was more than we could stand. After much discussion, we decided to tell our son that Grandma had an “owie”  growing on her lungs and that it could not heal. We

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-45936837774403701162010-05-20T21:16:00.000-07:002010-05-28T14:33:53.313-07:00

This morning I stopped at the store with my Dad and my son to pick up a few things. Ten seconds after turning down the bulk goods aisle I got a little nudge from my Dad and when I turned he pointed toward the bin of cocoa where I saw my son surrounded by a cloud of brown. He was swirling cocoa with a scoop in his right hand and using his left to brace himself while leaning, head first, into the

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-80721982198413892152010-05-18T10:11:00.000-07:002010-05-28T12:00:24.875-07:00

You will see me occasionally write here on adoption. It is very dear to my heart as it is how my family became a family.If you are familiar with adoption, great! If not, the important thing to know is that adoption is not like it was twenty, or even ten, years ago. There have been great improvements in the processes of local and international adoptions.We are now able to better prepare children

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-58531187011280250412010-05-17T07:20:00.000-07:002010-05-28T14:34:55.882-07:00

A couple of years ago I facilitated a wonderful, weekly parent support group and one of my favorite Moms in the group was Elizabeth who been attending and actively participating in the group every Thursday, September through May, for twenty years. When I spoke to her about this long standing commitment she explained that she had lost her parents when she was young and felt that this meant she

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-58780801812361986392010-05-14T06:39:00.001-07:002010-05-28T12:04:15.961-07:00

I took my five year old to Starbucks with me to get a coffee and he asked for a hot chocolate. We ordered, sat down with our drinks and proceeded to have a really nice visit about school and friends when I noticed the man next to us was staring a bit. I checked my shirt for coffee spills (my husband says I have "lid defect" when it comes to coffee) but nothing thank goodness. A few minutes

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-79004459861321862982010-05-12T09:00:00.000-07:002010-05-28T12:03:05.529-07:00

As we well know, raising children is not all intuitive. We don't always have the answers we need which, unfortunately, can make us feel guilty and like less of a parent. Hindering our access to those golden nuggets of parenting is that our mothers, sisters and aunts are no longer across the street and the Internet is overflowing with answers (and opinions) to our questions. It seems increasingly

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-8900041102259563152010-05-10T07:58:00.000-07:002010-05-28T12:03:36.531-07:00

When I took my certification class for infant massage our instructor kept saying the word "intent" and I realized just how important that word is while parenting. So many times we act on reflexes, get caught up with the clock or our routines and we forget to check our intent. My intent in reading to my son last night (or so I thought), was to let him hear new words, allow him to relax before

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-47472547067966535542010-05-06T08:27:00.000-07:002010-05-19T09:09:30.807-07:00

I have received a couple of questions from Mom's in Vancouver about what oils to use while massaging your baby or young child. Natural or Organic is always the answer. Remember, if it is on our skin, our body takes it in! You can use olive oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil (these are heavier oils that work well and a little goes a long way) or, my personal preference is grape seed oil. Grape seed

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-19410614185057422702010-05-04T10:08:00.000-07:002010-05-04T10:12:01.807-07:00

Looking out the window this morning makes me put "outdoor summer infant massages classes" back on my list of things to strongly consider! Yummy mint and lemon water, warm Vancouver wind blowing and massaging baby with sunblock maybe? My mind is whirling with possibilities!

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-79650542850480383412010-05-03T07:04:00.000-07:002010-05-04T10:12:38.863-07:00

To learn more about the 'Happiest Baby on the Block' techniques go to www.babymooparenting.com and sign up for a class!

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-64539247068195445362010-04-29T08:53:00.000-07:002010-04-29T09:00:32.389-07:00

I just found this while reading the news this morning. It is a great article on infant sensory development and infant massage from a Mom who is a columnist for the Western Star. A lot of what she talks about here applies to 'Happiest Baby on the Block' techniques as well. Give it a read!http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=337293&sc=27

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-10177644317852098872010-04-20T07:59:00.000-07:002010-04-20T08:06:39.848-07:00

Many thanks to Jamie who sent the testimonial posted below. I was thrilled that she offered to write this and even happier when I read it. She and Ava were a huge part of me wanting to develop Babymoon Parenting. The few hours I spent in the floor with them in my living room was so much fun and it felt great to be helping a wonderful Mom at a time when she needed a little extra support. There is

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-77717395045253064282010-04-18T14:55:00.000-07:002010-04-18T16:24:20.783-07:00

I signed up for LinkedIn this morning. What an amazing service! People popping up from all over. Awesome!

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-46380865572859374742010-04-16T16:34:00.000-07:002010-04-27T08:35:18.881-07:00

The website is up today....yeah! Thank heavens for people who have more technical skills than I do! Now, just have to wait and hope people can find me. Bring on the babies!

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041942295045540695.post-4555098326682879952010-04-12T14:31:00.000-07:002010-04-16T16:34:11.529-07:00

Future Babymooners, I am almost there! Just a few more tedious things to do and I can start scheduling classes in May! So looking forward to working with all of you and my sincere thanks to those who have helped me make Babymoon Parenting come to life. Special thanks to Brett Vance (technical genius!) and my very dear husband and son for all their never-ending support.

Bryan and Wendynoreply@blogger.com0