Mommy and Isaac {20+ lbs @ 8 months}

I had the privilege of reviewing a  Boba 2G Organic earlier this year. I loved it and thought it worked wonderfully despite Isaac being so young. But between the hypotonia and neck weakness, last summer I decided to try a wrap for the first time ever. Being so happy with the Boba carrier, naturally I purchased their Sleepy Wrap {now just called Boba Wrap}.

I just want to say that I love it! I love everything about my Sleepy Wrap from the fabric {soft, cuddly, breathable} to the easy-to-follow instructions for wear, to the fit of it. While long-term (all day hike etc.), it doesn’t have the same comfort level as a more structured carrier {since Isaac is over 20 pounds now!}, I comfortably wear him for a few hours at a time and we’re both happy.

I wrap it on me

I pop him in

He snuggles in and is content {easy-peasy}

Sometimes I tuck his head in, cozy and supported, and he dozes off. Other times I  let him peek around or tilt his head up to watch me. He’s at just the right level for me to kiss him constantly and I love to look down on him, nestled in there.

I was always scared of wraps. They didn’t seem secure enough to hold baby and the whole wrapping thing seemed really confusing. Let me assure you that neither is the case and you really have to try one! They’re actually pretty economical too.

Today I snapped this picture of the two of us enjoying each other and wanted to give a big shout-out to Boba and babywearing!

How do you wear your baby?

• My wrap was purchased with my own money. This isn’t a sponsored post.
• I’ve been using and loving this wrap now for 6 months!!
  
• Read the Babywearing reviews I’ve done

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Babywearing: Sleepy Wrap is a post from Beautiful Calling.

I can still recall that crisp fall day that my little 18 month Chloe, who couldn’t talk yet, picked out her first pair of shoes: brown polka dot Giseles by Pediped. Since then we’ve purchased many, many pair of Pediped. Why? I’m glad you asked!

It’s not because of the price to be sure. But the quality, I feel, justifies the price. Chloe wears her shoes to run, jump, climb, play in the sand, ride her bike and more. Her days are full of rough-and-tumble play but she always looks the little lady. These shoes survive all the adventures that this little girl takes them on {and still look great!}.

Pediped makes a wide range of shoes, of all different materials. Our absolute favorite are the mary jane style leather shoes. So breathable! All of Chloe’s Pediped’s to date have had velcro closures, with the exception of her boots which were zippered. They were all easy for her to do and undo herself, however, they were sturdy and well fastened. I love the velcro fasteners which mean you get a custom fit! No matter how fast she was running in this direction or that, her Pedipeds are able to keep up with her!

Their sizing seems to be accurate and consistent no matter what the style. They have a downloadable sizing chart. I’ve used it many times and we’ve had fantastic luck each time with a good fit. I find her Pediped shoes are supportive as she races around and the fit of most of her Pediped’s is beautiful. The ballet flats that we received for the review do seem to fit a little differently, a little wider perhaps? But all our other Pedipeds fit like a glove!

With things like the flex fit system, being recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association, machine washable options, rubber toe options, Grip n Go, Memory Foam, and water safe options, Pediped is always coming up with innovative ideas and fabulous styles.

My favorite thing about Pediped is the adorable styles. With a beautiful balance of adorable and trendy, this wonderful company provides casual and dressy selections for girls and boys alike.

If I am going to spend good money on clothing for my tots, shoes are very high on my list. Little feet are growing and forming; their foot health is as important to me as their good oral, eye or any other aspect of their health. I’ve read that many adults’ foot problems can be traced back to childhood. I feel that Pediped is a company that I can trust my tots feet with for many years to come.

• Thank you to Pediped for providing a pair of ballet flats for Chloe to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own and all other shoes mentioned in this review, aside from the ballet flats, were purchased by myself.

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. A Pediped Princess: A Shoe Review is a post from Beautiful Calling.

I was sent a couple of samples: Key Lime and Pina Colada. They smelled fantastic. Their ‘menu’ sounds delicious and I am sure it smells even better. It includes the following:

• - Plain Jane (Unscented)
• - Black Forest Cake
• - Pina Colada
• - Key Lime Pie
• - Apple Pie
• - Root Beer Float
• - Strawberry Shortcake
• - Banana Bread
• - Birthday Cake
• - Bubble Gum
• - Gingerbread Cookies *LIMITED TIME ONLY!*

Our All-Natural Detergent is hypoallergenic, 100% vegan and free of phosphates, EDTA, phthalates, parabens, SLS, SLES, nitrates, sulphites ,chlorine! Our natural, safe, and old fashioned ingredients remove stains, keep whites bright and remove odour and bacteria without masking them with harmful chemical fragrances.

Monkey Doodlez Website

I use a HE washing machine. I used less that the recommended amount and found my clothing  {and my three day old cloth diapers!!}  came out clean and scent free. The product wasn’t a grainy powder but more soft small flakes which I found to dissolve easily. I also opened the door to see and yes, there were plenty of suds.  I love that it is made in Canada and that it is all natural. I can use it on my clothing, my husband’s (he’s very sensitive to smells), the cloth diapers (rinse clean!) and the children’s (sensitive skin) as well as the baby’s clothing.  If you were looking to try before you buy, Laundry Tarts offers a small sample package (which should do 4-8 HE loads) for $2.45 plus $1.50 shipping.

Keep up with all the news on the Monkey Doodlez Facebook page!

Save!

Use: beautiful15 to save 15% on Laundry Tarts products at Monkey Doodlez. They are having some issue with their shipping quotes so be sure to go to the final page if you want an accurate amount. It’s $7 for over $25 and free shipping on orders over $100. Enjoy!

Win It!

In fact, I would love to give THREE  readers (CAN/US) a chance to try out their favorite scent. What do you need to do?

1. Just leave a comment with your favorite scent, a scent you’d like to see, or just tell me how your day is going!
2. If you follow this blog in any way shape or form, leave a comment for that too!

• Thank you to Monkey Doodlez for providing the samples for review!
• Must have a Canadian or US shipping address. Ends Nov 30th. Random.org used.

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Laundry Tarts Review is a post from Beautiful Calling.

I believe that life is enjoyed so much the more when we take time to celebrate the everyday things; a doll’s birthday, a rainy day, an un-birthday (my MIL loves this one!), a successful potty day, a PJ day, coloring inside the lines…

If you visit the Kinder Canada Facebook Page, you’ll find ideas for celebrating the holidays and the little things in life. You’ll also find My KINDER® Moments to share your photos! Simply by creating a fun photo, you’re entered into the monthly contest. How exciting! I’m incredibly thankful for the invention of the digital camera. In fact, perhaps we should have a celebratory day in honor of it. I love to capture our special memories; it’s so fun to look back and re-live adventures, milestones, growth, and fun though the photos. It is also so easy to share those special memories with others now!

How do we celebrate?

Sometimes we celebrate with a cake from the store or we’ll bake up a batch of cupcakes with extra icing. Other times it’s a special meal, made at home, eaten out or delivered and eaten picnic-style on the floor! On occasion we’ll add party hats, colored napkins or party paper plates to a meal for no occasion at all! It could be a simple walk, singing on the way or an impromptu funny happy dance. Sometimes mommy celebrates all by herself during nap time, usually with chocolate. But SHHHH, don’t tell anyone!

It’s fun to look for things to celebrate. The children enjoy it and so do I. It makes you appreciate all the goodness in life.

What are you celebrating today?

• This is my final post as a Kinder mom, though this mom will still love Kinder long after the posts are written! Be sure to read the first two Kinder Posts about Having Fun on the Go and the Kinder Re-launch in Canada.
• “Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”
• Feel free to take part in the Twitter Fun #KINDERMom

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. A Kinder Post: Simple Celebrations is a post from Beautiful Calling.

A Mentor and Model

My grandmother was an extremely influential person in my life. She was a woman of many talents. She was a wife and mother, a cashier, a produce manager, a baker, housekeeper, counselor, friend, shoulder-to-cry-on, cook, laundress, gardener, farmer, taxi, cancer survivor and so much more. One minute she could be in rubber boots, feeding the horses or weeding the carrot patch but the next minute she would be dressed in heels and pearls all set for church.

Grandma was a real lady, inside and out.

She experienced many challenges in her life, yet she was able to rise to the occasion. Whether they were personal challenges, family challenges, health related challenges – with her pluck and her faith, Grandma was able to meet them.

She grew vegetables, made preserves, baked bread from scratch. With grandma, there was no drudgery in homemaking but rather fun, fellowship, pride and satisfaction in a job well done.

Grandma encouraged us in whatever we were doing. My entrepreneurial spirit kicked in at a young age and Grandma was there, providing garden vegetables for my roadside “store”, or to help pick – and encourage me in my blueberry selling business.

Later on, grandma and grandpa provided access to their truck so I could work the late shift at the pizza shop. Years later,  they appeared significantly impressed and asked endless questions when I landed a really well paying job with fantastic benefits and the option to continue my education.

But when my husband and I made the decision for me to leave that successful position and embark on my new career as a stay-at-home mom, my grandmother was so proud.

For you see, there are lots of wonderfully important careers out there and being a stay-at-home mom is one of them. Some people forget that, but not grandma! I loved that grandma was proud and supportive of any and all ambitions and endeavors that I undertook!

I learned so much from grandma. Grandma truly did believe that I could be anything.  I want my daughter to grow up knowing that it is what is on the inside that is truly important, that character is key, that caring for your family is a blessing, a gift and a calling. I pray she will come to know that success isn’t based on having a career, that happiness isn’t in proportion to your bank account balance and that the value of people can not be counted.

What about Barbie?

Growing up, I played with Barbies. I’m not a feminist and don’t believe that woman should and can do everything but I believe that women play a vital role in our homes, communities and global society. I like the “I can be” campaign because it can help girls see themselves in a variety of careers that aren’t necessarily a position traditionally held by women. That being said, I hope Mattel will bring out a Barbie that highlights the career of mother too. Let’s let girls know that the world of career options is wide open to them but that choosing to be a homemaker is a valid choice too!

Take time to visit the new Barbie I Can Be website www.bethevoice.ca and see what parenting coach Terry Carson has to say. I really enjoyed the article “As a mother and mentor”.

I want my daughters to be proud but carry humility in their back pockets.

I want my daughters to live in the present because dwelling in the past does no good.

I want my daughters to be frugal without being cheap.

Be the Voice

National “I Can Be Day” has been declared and will take place on October 27, 2011, where participating schools will be encouraging Moms come in to speak about their careers. If I were presented with the opportunity, I would love to share how choosing to be a stay-at-home mother is also an important, valid and rewarding career that impacts and influences their lives for eternity, our community, and the future of our society.

Who was a prominent role model in your life?

• Disclosure – I am participating in the Barbie I Can Be campaign by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Mattel Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.
• Join in the fun #BarbieICanBe
• Personal Note about Barbie: My daughter plays with Barbie and loves Barbie but I do wish that Barbie’s clothes were a little more modest, with more one piece swimsuits and longer dresses.

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. I Can Be with Barbie is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Monkey Doodlez is one of the cutest names I’ve heard of and their products are just as sweet. I’ve been a fan of  their swim diapers and wipes cubes for quite a few years so when the opportunity to try out their Tuck and Go system with new baby Isaac, I leaped at the opportunity.

Tuck and Go System

We’ve used prefolds with wraps, all-in-ones, sized pockets, one-size pockets, the flip system as well a snap-in soaker type so we’ve been around the cloth diaper circuit a bit.

This diaper is pretty neat. This diaper is a sized diaper and is made up of an outer cover and an insert. The waterproof shell comes in an assortment of colors and fastens with Velcro for a custom fit. The edges are all lined with micro-fleece for comfort and the front and back have little tuck zones where the inner liner is held secure but they flip out with ease. The covers are designed for use with the Tuck and Go pads however you can also use them as covers for prefolds or fitteds.

The TAG pads are “made from a blend of 70% Bamboo Rayon, 28% Organic Cotton and 2% Polyester for optimum absorbency, breathability and comfort, with silky soft velour next to baby’s skin.”  They are very soft and quite absorbent; I haven’t had any leaking issues. It’s a fantastic system since I can just toss the wet pad in the wash, tuck a new pad in and reuse the cover. Less laundry makes mommy happy

They also have AIO’s as well if that is more your style but let me tell you, once you try these Tuck and Go’s, I bet you’ll be as thrilled with this unique system as we’ve been.

About The Company

“The name Monkey Doodlez was Cheryl’s oldest daughter’s nick name as a tot, so it seemed only a natural fit for the product line. Born on a dining room table, Monkey Doodlez has now grown to serve nearly 500 retailers around the world.
Monkey Doodlez products have always been made in Canada, sourcing as many materials as possible from Canadian suppliers. We opted out of a factory environment, choosing instead to employ home sewers, to provide them with flexible hours, competitive wages and the opportunity to spend more time with their families. The end result is excellent workmanship.”

Products & Coupons

In addition to diapers, they carry swim diapers, wipes cubes, wet bags, pail pals and so much more. Their website is also chock full of helpful resources as well.

You can find a Progressive coupon code on the MonkeyDoodlez Facebook page and RockinGreen Facebook pages.

Do you use Monkey Doodlez in your family? If so, you may want to check out their monthly photo contest. I’ll be entering my cutie Isaac!

Disclosure: All wonderfully insightful and honest opinions are my own and we received a Tuck and Go diaper to facilitate this review.

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Tuck and Go by Monkey Doodlez is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Kinder believes in letting kids be kids and I’m all for that which is why you’ll often find quilts draped over the dining room table and hear giggles coming from below.  Allowing their imaginations to run wild and their creative juices to flow, furniture, pillows and blankets can be easily transformed into an all day adventure. Rainy days are no problem for us! Baking is a fun, educational way to have fun and it’s usually quite delicious. Another favorite rainy day activity? A box of rice!

I’m at home all day most days with my tots but how do we incorporate play when we’re on the go?

My bag of tricks is tucked into my diaper bag. It has a dozen fun little things in it from little plastic dinosaurs, to pop up frogs, to little spinning tops. It contains the perfect distraction for doctor visits and is wonderful for entertaining the family while waiting for dinner at the restaurant. I switch out the toys every so often so there is always something new and exciting. Truthfully, the little Kinder toys often make the perfect addition to my little bag of tricks.

The boredom box rides along with us in the van. It is a white bucket with two handles and I use the middle seatbelt in between Chloe and John to strap it down. It contains  a few toys and books. It means the tots have something to do while we’re out doing errands and if for some reason we’re delayed, I can always read them a story.

Songs and games are my number one way to ‘enjoy the ride’ so to speak. My tots are finally getting a little older and are able to {somewhat} understand the game Eye-Spy. They also like to play ‘lets find…” games, sing super silly songs and play rhyming games.

Looking for more ways to have more fun? Don’t forget to become a part of the Kinder Canada Facebook community for exciting promotions and contests you won’t want to miss!

Your assignment today? Find five minutes to read a story, play a quick game or go for a walk with your tots!

“Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Play Today with Kinder: Fun on the Go! is a post from Beautiful Calling.

For the longest time, I resisted the Facebook trend, thinking it a waste of time – until I realized how valuable it could be.  Baby and You is one of the pages that I like. It’s a new Facebook page for moms (and dads) with babies sponsored by Loblaws. Connecting with other moms is a sanity saver some days; knowing that you aren’t alone in the journey. Even when you find it impossible to leave the house; you can still make a connection! So whether you have a question for other moms, want to share an adorable picture of your little one or brag about a milestone, Baby and You is the place to do it!

Baby and You is also a place for encouragement, new ideas and tips. Every three months they have two new mommy bloggers writing for you! With an equal focus on mom and baby topics, these bloggers will offer up some food for thought.  The current mommy bloggers are Jody @ Mommy Moment and Lisa @ Growing Your Baby.

But Baby and You isn’t just about the social aspect, it’s valuable in other practical ways too. Like being able to access the Loblaw’s current flyer and being in on the deals, promotions and exclusive coupons! {Because what mom doesn’t want to save money?!?}

Do you like surprises? {But not the in-the-diaper kind!} I do!  Baby and You  has something up their sleeve and it’s going to be announced on their Facebook page this month so you don’t want to miss it! And neither do I!

Baby and You is a fantastic place to save money, glean ideas and chat about all things baby…and mommy too! Be sure to check it out.

“Disclosure – I am participating in the Baby and You program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Loblaw Companies. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Baby and You: A Facebook Community is a post from Beautiful Calling.

I have happy childhood memories of Kinder Surprise and as an adult, I now have even more! I love to eat Kinder eggs myself and they’re a huge hit with my children but the person that I have bought the most Kinder Surprises for? My husband. He loves those decadent chocolate eggs! He gets them in his stocking at Christmas, on his nightstand at Easter and occasionally on his pillow with a special little note.

Kinder Surprise has been creating and celebrating little moments of joy with Canadian families for over 30 years and are re-launching with a whole new toy collection with more than 70 new bigger and better new toys! I can’t wait to see these!  The timing is perfect. We’ll be starting potty training boot camp in our home in September. The all new Kinder Surprise eggs will be the perfect way to celebrate some victories! For mommy and for John!

If you visit the Kinder Canada Facebook Page, you can get a sneak peek at the new collection! They’re also giving away some Kinder Eggs to fans before the end of August so be sure to like them!

I’m part of the #KinderMom ambassador program designed to spread the word about the re-launch of their new playful toy collection and to share ways that we make time for play.

I think our favorite way to incorporate play is to enjoy the journey. Where ever it is that we are going, whether on vacation or just to the store, if an opportunity arises we seize it! The children love it and we’re making sweet memories!

How do you make time for play each day?

“Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Kinder Surprise Re-Launch in Canada is a post from Beautiful Calling.

This adorable face is what peeks up at me when I’m wearing him in the Boba. I love it!

My Wearing History

I love carrying my babies, but that wasn’t always the case. When my first child was a baby, I gave babywearing a try with a borrowed ‘snuggli’ but it was a flop. Chloe (now 4) wasn’t happy in it and I found it uncomfortable and hard to put on. With the birth of my second child, John (now 3), I branched out and since then have used a Hot Sling, WomBaby, Ergo Carrier and now the Boba Baby Carrier. I will be adding a sleepy wrap to this list very soon. I have to say that in order for babywearing to be a good experience, you really have to have a good carrier; one that is comfortable for baby as well as for you and sometimes one type of carrier is better suited for the circumstance than another.

About NAP Inc.

“…mission is to provide comfortable and durable baby carriers to parents throughout the world and give them a helping hand in raising confident, joyful and compassionate children. We hope to enhance the bond between mother and child by enabling both to be close and connected to each other in a practical yet magical sort of way.”

Doesn’t that sound beautiful? There truly is something magical about babywearing and I love that the NAP team  recognizes that fact. NAP Inc. supports a variety of non-profit organizations that support many of the same ideals that our family shares from natural birthing and midwifery to homeschooling. This is a company that I can relate to and feel good about supporting.

About the Carrier

A year and eleven prototypes later, the the Boba was born. It is a soft structured carrier designed for babies 15-45 pounds and has some really great and unique features! A versatile carrier, it can be used as a front and back carrier. The extra height, width, foot straps, organic fabric and leg support are the highlights for the Boba. I encourage you to visit their website; it’s well designed and chock-full of information to help you make an informed decision!

Our Experience

“One size fits most”  and I would say that is pretty accurate. The various straps adjust easily to ensure a custom, comfortable fit. I’m an average height and build so it was no surprise that it fit me well. My husband is 6’ 8” and I was impressed by how well it fit him except the top chest strap in the back carry is too close to his neck. That being said, not too many people are his height! The Boba has some really great features which I will let you discover on the Boba website; this is really about our experience!

Our organic pine carrier arrived at the door promptly. When I opened the package, John (3) excitedly asked to “go for a ride” and Chloe (4) danced around asking if it was for Isaac (9 weeks) or if she could have a ride too. Though ‘grown up’ they still love to be carried. I assured them that everyone would have a ride to try it out and that they could all share our new carrier, taking turns.

We were supposed to have gone to South Africa this month however, due to some complications with Isaac after birth, our trip is rescheduled to November. Having traveled abroad before with tots, I know how much simpler life can be babywearing and look forward to using our Boba there in November.

Since we weren’t going to South Africa as planned, we decided to go visit Ottawa for four days instead. During the course of our trip, Chloe (4), John (3) and Isaac (9 weeks) all spent some time in the Boba and all three loved it. Chloe is quite grown up but, at times, still enjoys the closeness that being carried affords her. John is the same. He was absolutely delighted with the foot rests and informed me, “Mommy, you have these just like a camel”.

I didn’t unroll and use the hood in the traditional sense but left it rolled. I found that it provided a good amount of support for Isaac’s head. Though the recommended minimum weight is 15 pounds, Isaac did well in the carrier thanks to that hood. He snuggled right in and had a nap each time I wore him in it.

It is comfortable for me to wear and easy to put on, though I did have a teeny bit of trouble getting the chest strap done up when wearing the carrier on the front. I think that was mostly because I had it on the bottom setting, having worn it as a backpack previously. Once the strap was in the top position, it was much easier.

The organic pine carrier is a very soft, comfortable yet durable material. I was surprised at the lightness of it as well. It is very well padded for comfort but not bulky. It was warm to wear though the temperatures this summer seem to be breaking records for heat and babywearing in general is often a warm affair.

Comparing the Boba

I decided that for the purpose of this review, I would simply review the Boba Carrier based on it’s own merits and {try} not to compare it to other carriers during the review. I do plan to do another post where I will compare the different carriers I have had the privilege of trying and using, whether I purchased them myself or received them for review. The Boba website does have a great carrier comparison article as well as a Boba vs. Ergo chart which you may find helpful as you await my comparison post!

 Final Thoughts?

I love it. It’s a wonderful, comfortable carrier that will really carry you through all stages {pun intended!}. I love the beautiful colors and softness of the fabric, that it is made in the USA, and that it is just so comfortable to wear even for long periods. I would definitely recommend the Boba, mostly for it’s versatility; it’s perfect for my baby, my 3 year old and my 4 year old! The only issue for our family is who gets to ride in it!

Do you own a Boba Carrier? What carrier is your ‘go-to’ and why?

• Thanks to NAP Inc. for providing an amazing Boba Carrier to facilitate the review. All insightful, delightful opinions expressed here are entirely my own, of course!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Boba Baby Carrier Review is a post from Beautiful Calling.