Little Scientists Toddler Absorption Experiment

momstowns little scientists were at it again at Family Fitness World in Sherwood Park! This month momstown looked at absorption and colours. The children were given two cups of water (one blue, one red), one empty cup, and two pieces of paper towel. After asking a few questions about what would happen, we put a piece of paper towel in each cup, put the ends of each of those into the middle cup, and sat back to watch. Right away, a few of our Little Scientists noticed that the water was slowly travelling up the paper towel. 

Sometimes, science is slow, and it sure was today. While we were waiting, the children played and the mamas chatted in the great space provided by Family Fitness World. After some more time (and with maybe just a little help from a couple of mamas), our Little Scientists saw the results. The water had traveled up the paper towel, into the empty cup, and mixed to make purple! So cool!

If you want to do this with your own children, all you need is clear cups, water, food colouring, and paper towel. If you use less “thick” paper towel, the results will show up much more quickly than ours did. Either way, though, the results are worth it!

Interested in what else momstown has to offer? Check us out and sign up for our free one month trial!

Mastering the Art of Couch Parenting...

As most of you know I was really anxious about adding another little person to our family.  Honestly, having 3 kids really freaked me out while I was pregnant. Well that tiny guy has arrived, he's 6 weeks old now and I have managed to keep it together (for the most part anyway).  

How does one survive having 3 kids and only 2 arms? 

What happens when you're stuck on the couch cluster feeding a ferociously hungry newborn for hours on end? These were my questions before baby arrived and I've come up with the solution...

Two words. 

Couch Parenting.

It's glorious. I've done my share fair of couch parenting in the past few months between the car accident recovery and being 40 weeks pregnant in the hottest month of the summer.  With two kids who seem to be bottomless pits of hunger and demands I've come up with some tips to help you master this new art I call couch parenting. 

Step 1 - 

• Teach toddler to open fridge. I know, I know this is a huge risk and eggs may get broken, but I promise it's worth the training time.

Step 2 -

• Select a drawer in the fridge and a specific shelf in a cupboard for kid friendly food only.  I have one drawer in my fridge that is strictly snacks and an area on my lazy susan with dry snacks as well.

Step 3 - 

• Buy only fruit and snacks that require minimal prep.  If you must buy an annoying food that requires prior prep and portioning, do it the night before while you've got backup (aka Dad. Or better yet ask  "backup" to do this part). This includes drinks, always have cups poured ready for the morning.

Step 4 - 

• Con eldest sibling into thinking being a helper is the best job ever.  Warning - this might take some work and serious coaxing.  My reasoning for this mild form of child slavery is: this older child got one on one time and attention from me that the other kids will never get.  She owes her siblings for this little advantage. 

If you've successfully completed Steps 1 through 4 you should be sitting right now while your oldest child proudly folds laundry and your toddler fetches his pre-poured milk and baggie of grapes from the fridge. 

You're welcome. 

Christmas Footprint Plates at Baby Basics!

This week at momstown Edmontons Baby Basics program we made adorable Christmas Footprint Plates! CST Consultant Erin also came for a visit and talked to our mamas about the importance of saving for your child's education. The mamas love to make cute keepsakes for their babies so we made a perfect gift for grandparents! This craft was the perfect keepsake to mark baby's first Christmas.  

 Supplies: 

• White Plates
• Red & Green Permanent Markers
• Red & Green Acrylic Paint
• Small Paintbrushes
• Sponge Paintbrushes

We found doing the footprint first gave the best results, then adding the writing with the markers. We added the bows using a small paint brush and the polka dot border using round foamy paintbrushes. I will warn that these plates are for decorative purposes only. You may be able to seal them with a varnish of some kind. 

Thank you to our Baby Basics location sponsor Birth Source! If you're in need of anything pregnancy and baby in Edmonton this is the place to find it!

Baby Basics is a weekly event available with a $45/year momstown membership. We alternate between crafts, speakers and fun activities for babies under 1! Click here to learn more about momstowns programming. 

Sign up for a free 30 day free trial membership here!

Tales for Tots - I Spy: Letters

momstown Edmonton has been exploring the alphabet all this month. So, what better book to read in Tales for Tots than I Spy: Letters by Jean Marzollo? Thanks to Scholastic for such a great book to share with the kids. Not your usual alphabet book, the kids loved the rhymes and the brightly coloured pictures. My son is still asking me for the “ABCD book, Mom! Please!”

After reading our book, we took to the craft table and made our own “I Spy” letters. Each kid got a large letter that their names started with and then, with the help of the mamas, found that same letter on some boxes. Once they had found and cut out several of that letter with adult help, they glued them down. This was a great letter recognition craft! At the end of our crafting, we drew a name for the book and little Molly got to take it home!

Liam's Birth Story - Home Birth to the Hospital...

To tell Liam's birth story I'll start with my previous births. My first birth was a natural hospital birth in Fort McMurray. Her birth also started my journey as a doula, I saw first hand a lack of respect and support labouring moms receive at the hospital.  For our next pregnancy we planned a home birth but unfortunately due to a serious complication we lost our little Maya and delivered her at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Edmonton.  With Nolan we planned and carried out a perfectly amazing home water birth.  While I labored upstairs all my close friends and family gathered downstairs and waited to hear that sweet cry.  We were blessed with a fast delivery surrounded by love & support.

So with our fourth and final child we planned the same.  We bought all the home birth supplies which included plastic sheets, giant diaper like pads and a sieve (don't ask.)  We rented a birth tub from the wonderful people at Baby Birth Pools and had it set up weeks in advance.  We lost many hours of sleep to move our two younger children into the same room so the baby's birth room would be ready for the moment he decided to make his arrival.  The only regret we had with Nolan's home birth was that we had no good photo's of the birth. We planned ahead this time and hired Vanessa Brown, an amazingly talented birth photographer to capture every moment of our last child's entry into this world.  

With all the preparation complete, we waited.  And waited.  Finally after a fun night of crafting with my momstown mamas we decided to take a brisk walk, I told those ladies that I could still do a cart wheel even at 41 weeks preggo.  They didn't believe me, so I proved them wrong and did a near perfect cart wheel.  Apparently that cart wheel may have been the eviction notice little Liam needed as I woke up at 5 am with cramping.  

After an hour of timing contractions at about 4 mins apart we called the birth posse; midwife, doula/twin, photographer and parents.  Labour was consistent and I worked through contractions as everyone arrived to help with the kids and wait for our newest addition.  My husband frantically filled the birth tub as my labour's tend to be short.  

My midwife checked me at 9:30 am. I could tell by the look on her face that something wasn't right.  She said "I can feel the cord" okay big deal there should be a cord there, right? No. The cord had slipped in front of the baby's head and was presenting first.  It's called a cord prolapse. It's a complication that afflicts only about 0.5% of all pregnancies.  The risk of the cord coming out first is the head drops down and puts pressure on the cord, cutting off blood supply to the baby which can cause brain damage and even death in 15% of babies if not taken care of within minutes.  

As a doula, I knew all of this.  I knew that those two words were a life and death emergency.  She didn't need to explain or tell me what would happen next.  Janine called the ambulance at 9:52 am.  Paramedics were there in just minutes.  With my midwife holding baby's head off the cord and me on my hands and knees we headed to the hospital.  We live very close and but it felt like it took hours perhaps because of the awkward position and strong contractions.  Jeff was in the front seat of the ambulance but I didn't know he was there. 

When we arrived they whisked me into the OR and started prepping for a Cesarean.  It hit me at that moment.  Laying on the cold table, completely alone and terrified I realized that this was it, I really wasn't going to be able to deliver my baby.  I begged them to do a spinal rather than general anesthesia.  I knew the responsible thing was to put me under but I couldn't even fathom not being present for the birth of my baby.  I laid there completely in shock while they prepped me for surgery that I didn't want.  I managed to tell them I wanted no one but my husband to see the baby before I did. The last thing I remember was a nurse saying "When you wake up you'll be a mommy." 

Liam was born at 10:34 am just 40 mins after the call was placed to 911. He weighed 8lbs14oz and measured 21.5 inches long.  I woke up at 11:40 am in extreme pain.  My midwife was there talking me through what happened.  I didn't feel like I just delivered a baby.  Waking up to mommy hood just isn't the same.  All I wanted to know was that my baby was okay.  I needed him and I needed my husband.  Finally they both came in and I got to hold him.  I was so groggy that I don't remember much but I was happy to be near him and to have my husband close by.  

This was not quite the peaceful home birth we had imagined.  Like a nightmare, the whole scene replays in my mind often and the first few days I had anxiety attacks when I thought about what happened.  I've had a really difficult time coming to terms with losing everything I had planned for this birth.  I missed seeing him take his first breath, open his eyes, and hear his first cry.  I missed anxiously waiting to hear what he weighed and being the first person to hold him. I've actually felt like I have grieved all these moments, as they are something you just can't get back. 

As a doula, teaching prenatal classes and attending countless birth we always say "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans." Those words could not more true. I've always thought everything happens for a reason and even though this birth was a virtual disaster I've felt a sense of relief over the anxiety that plagued this pregnancy.  I am eternally grateful to my incredible midwife who caught the impossible and literally saved my sons life.  Coming so close to losing Liam, it seems I have nothing but pure gratitude and love for this sweet baby. Maybe that's why I've gone through this horrible experience?  Maybe it's to help another mom in my doula work?  I'll never know why, but what I do know is that I love this little boy more than anything and if I had to, I'd do it all over again.

Thank you to Belle Photography and Design for
 the gorgeous photos of our little miracle baby!

Personalized Christmas Wreaths

You all know these momstown mama's love to craft! Christmas is fantastic because the ideas and options are endless! This month momstown Edmonton made personalized Christmas wreaths and we had a great time in the process chatting, snuggling a newborn and snacking on yummy dips

I will warn you that this was not the tidiest of crafts, but what great craft is?! The tables and floors were littered with leaves, twigs and glitter but the final product was so worth it! 

Here's a list of supplies to make your own personalized Christmas wreath:

• 18" Vine Wreath 
• Christmas Balls (Anti-Shatter would be the best option, we broke a couple of balls in the process)
• Assorted Ribbon
• Hot Glue Gun
• Christmas Picks
• Tule
• Wooden Letter 
• Red & Green Acrylic Paint
• Mini Styrofoam Christmas Balls

The great thing about this wreath is that they are whimsical but you can go traditional with the colours or have fun with pinks, blues and purples! They took us about 2 hours to make start to finish but we were sharing glue guns and talking too much so I'd say an hour or so would be a good estimate on time.

We used Acrylic Paint to add polka-dots to our letters, instead of buying the pricey circular sponges at the craft store, use the eraser end of a pencil or a crayon way cheaper and work just as well!

We started by gluing our Christmas balls on, then went about  filling in the gaps with the decorations. We put glue all around the neck of the ball and stuck it between the twigs. Tying the ball on is another option, we opted for hot gluing so they didn't move around on us!

Next we added the picks, they are basically a decoration with a wire bendable end. We chose an assortment of colours and  varieties for everyone to choose from. They were fairly big so we tore them into threes to spread them around.

Next we used the tule, ribbon & mini christmas balls to fill it out. We tied the tule onto the vines in the wreath in bows, super simple. I highly recommend sticking with the vine wreaths for this project for this reason, it was really easy to make sure everything stayed put and we didn't have to go to glue crazy because everything stuck in nicely to the wreaths.

All done! I know I know cheesy picture but what can I say? It was fun :)

Christmas Traditions - Random Acts of Kindness

We've always done the traditional chocolate advent calendar every year but this year I wanted to change things up, the last thing my kids need is more chocolate! I want to teach them about kindness, giving back to the community and compassion for other people this Christmas season. We have a list of 25 things we'll do leading up to Christmas to make someones day just a little bit better.

We found these fantastic RACK card templates here as well as some fantastic ideas! Here's a list of the ones we're going to tackle this Christmas season! 

If you have more ideas for us please leave a comment! 

• Pay for someone behind us in a drive-thru
• Plug parking meters downtown
• Leave a gift for our mail carrier
• Grocery shopping for the sole purpose of putting it in the Food Bank box 
• Fill a Good Samaritans Christmas Box
• Tape quarters to vending machines
• Drop off homemade cookies to a firehall with a Thank You note
• Visit the elderly at a retirement home to hand out homemade Christmas cards
• Ring a Salvation Army bell
• Hand a gift card to the person behind us in line at a grocery store
• Shovel snow for our neighbours
• Drop off books to give to patients at the Stollery Childrens Hospital
• Let someone in front of us in line at the bank
• Drop off treats to the school for teachers 
• Hand out Tim Hortons cards at a mall
• Drop off gifts for Santa's Anonymous
• Donate diapers and wipes to The Terra Centre
• Pay for the person behind us at the movie theatre 
• Tape scratch tickets on toilet stall doors
• Bring a gift to the School Bus drivers
• Put a quarter in each candy machine at a toy store
• Give blood
• Drop off a coffee to a busy mom
• Unload groceries and return carts for shoppers
• Hand out hot chocolate at a skating rink
• Leave a gift card tucked between books at a book store
• Drop off treats to a construction crew working outside

Alphabet Play: Handprint Fun!

All month momstown Edmonton has been having fun with the alphabet. Alphabet Play was no exception. The letter “H” was our focus for Alphabet Play, so we made a fun handprint craft—hands in the shape of an H! With a little help from the mamas, the kids traced, cut, and glued their handprints down. Afterwards, the kids used play dough to make the letter H on a laminated sheet. Kids LOVE playing with play dough and this simple activity is a great way to introduce them to letters

Join us next month at Alphabet Play to discover letters with your child!

Family Winter Events in Edmonton!

I know, it's cold. Winter came in with a bang this year, and you might be feeling a little claustrophobic already! Luckily we live in a city where there is always something to do! Edmonton is known for being Festival City and winter is no exception! Check out the listing below of all of the exciting activities available for families during these cold winter months! 

Bundle up the kids then get out there and enjoy your city!

Christmas on the Square Holiday Light up!
When: November 17th, 2012
Take in the sights and sounds of the holiday season at the Downtown Business Association’s Christmas on the Square Holiday Light Up.
Where: Sir Winston Churchill Square

Jingle On: Santa Claus Parade
When: Sunday December 2nd, 2012
Colourful floats, mascots, marching bands, dancers and others will jingle their way through Commerce Place, Manulife Place, and Edmonton City Centre Malls. The highlight is the arrival of Santa who takes a break from the North Pole for a pre-Christmas visit with all of Edmonton’s good boys and girls.
Where: Commerce Place, Manulife Place & Edmonton City Centre Mall

Festival of Trees
When: November 29-December 2nd, 2012
There are over a hundred magnificently decorated trees and 150 other festive displays. A gingerbread village and uniquely decorated cakes are other attractions.
Where: Shaw Convention Centre - 9797 Jasper Avenue

A Prairie Christmas at Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm
When: December 15, 16, 22 & 23 2012
It's a quieter, gentle time at the farm with fun indoor & outdoor activites for youngsters who still BELIEVE IN SANTA! Theres a indoor snow ball fort, fox & goose trails in the snow, bale maze, and train rides on the Polar Express, free family photos with Santa Claus, shadow puppetry, and Christmas stories with Mrs. C.
Where: 56311 Lily Lake Road, Bon Accord; 25 Km north of Edmonton

Metropolis Winter Festival
When: New Years Day through to Family Day weekend 
Metropolis is a Sir Winston Churchill Square festival of lights, sound and live entertainment for the entire family.
Where: Winston Churchill Square


Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival
When: January 5th & 6th 2012
The Deep Freeze Winter Festival is a free family event that brings together the Ukrainian, Franco-Albertan, Franco-African, First Nations, and South American communities to revel in the magic and beauty of winter. 
Where: Alberta Avenue (118 ave between 91st & 94th Street)

Ice on Whyte
When: January 25th-February 13th 2012
Come outside and play in a park made of ice and see beautiful ice sculptures by internationally renowned artists!
Where: End of Steel Park (Gateway Blvd. and Tommy Banks Way) and Strathcona Community League (10139-87 Ave. NW)

Silver Skate Festival 
When: February 15th-24th 2012
The Silver Skate Festival & Winter Celebration is a blend of arts, culture, recreation and sport in the heart of the city river valley. Check out the AKA Kids for fun activities for the whole family!
Where: Hawrelak Park (9930 Groat Road Northwest) Edmonton

Boo Bash sponsored by Fisher-Price!

momstown Edmonton had a spook-tacular day at our Boo Bash sponsored by Fisher-Price! The kids tested out some fantastic new toys and a few lucky little ones chose a toy to bring home at the end of the party! 

CST Consultants Theresa & Erin twisted balloons for our little goblins and ghouls! Four brave momstown dads also took part in a fierce pumpkin carving competition! Congratulations to Jerry who won a 1 year momstown membership for his wife Zuzka! 

Toadstool Music provided a fantastic music station where the kids had a chance to make some noise! They discovered all sorts of instruments and kept the party rocking with their music! Check out Sherwood Park music studio run by one of our very own momstown mama's!

 Family Fitness World kept the kids moving with a yoga demonstration to the music of Michael Jackson's Thriller! Family Fitness World is a location sponsor for momstown's programming! They offer birthday parties, yoga classes, intellidance and after-school programs for kids!

Thank you to all of our fabulous event sponsors!

Indoor Trick or Treating in Edmonton!

Looking to avoid the cold this Halloween? Here's a listing of times and locations for indoor trick or treating!

Kingsway Mall
Trick or Treat at participating retailers!
Time: 5pm-7pm

Southgate Centre
Have Halloween Photos done and Trick or Treat at participating retailers!
Time: Photo's 12pm-3pm & Photo's and Trick or Treating 4pm-8pm

Millwoods Town Centre
Spook-tacular Crafts, Activities and Treat Stations throughout the centre!
Time: 6pm-8pm

Londonderry Mall
Trick or Treating at participating retailers & free activities and crafts!
Time: 5pm-8pm

Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre
Candy, Bouncy houses, pumpkin decorating, snow cones, face painting balloons and more!
Time: 4:30pm-8:30pm

West Edmonton Mall
World's Largest Indoor Trick or Treat Festival! Pick up a candy bag at Centre Stage and follow a candy map to find all the treat in West Edmonton Mall! 
Time: 5pm-8pm

Capilano Mall
Pick up a treat bag from a retailer then trick or treat through the mall at the stores!
Time: 2pm-5pm

Adventures in Potty Training - Day 1

Today is the day.  After much procrastination, we are starting to potty train my 2 year old. My oldest is so excited to teach her and while I am excited to stop changing diapers the overriding emotion here is fear. I keep reminding myself that I have a fully trained 5 year old at home, it wasn't that hard...was it? 

The truth is, I didn't train my oldest. I was a full-time working mom when she was in this stage and my day-home provider trained her. Of course I had her on the weekends and evenings but I seemed to mess up any progress she made during the week and set them back for Monday morning. I also had a fantastic day-home provider who washed, dried and folded soiled clothing before I picked her up. I had to deal with far less potty-training messes that the average mom and yet I still look back and cringe at this period of my oldest daughters life. 

Potty-training was a bit of a nightmare to be honest. My daughter used to pee on the floor when I put her in time out so that she wouldn't have to stay a full two minutes.  It was frustrating to see her have impressive control like this, then have an accident a few hours later because she forgot! Don't get me started on the poo-covered room I found more than once after nap! I remember a ton of tears (mine) and it seemed like other kids figured it out overnight where mine seemed to take a full 6 months to master her new skill. I realize that all of the issues we had probably had more to do with me that her. I was a first time mom with high expectations and to little patience.

So today, we set out on this (hopefully painless) journey, I'm hoping that I learned something the first time around and I'm not going in quite as blind as I did 3 years ago! I have to admit my heart is broken a little that my baby is grown up enough for this stage but we'll take it one hour at a time and pray that she catches on quick!

Frozen Boo-nana Ghosts

I was working diligently online (ie. perusing pinterest for hours and answering a total of 2 emails) when I stumbled upon these cute looking Banana Ghosts from Skinny Taste! I realized that they were made with white chocolate which sounds delicious but I was hoping they would be a breakfast treat! (We love breakfast popsicles around here!) I decided to try out the same instructions with plain yogurt instead. It froze nicely and had the same effect, they would be perfect for a Halloween breakfast or potluck! My girls loved them! Next time I'd follow the instructions to wipe off the excess, we also didn't cut them in half lengthwise which worked just fine for us!

What you need:

-Bananas
-Chocolate chips
-Yogurt (plain, vanilla or Greek)
-Popsicle Sticks

Insert the popsicle stick in the banana and dip in yogurt, remove excess yogurt and lay on a cookie sheet (I lined mine with parchment to skip the mess). Place chocolate chips for eyes and freeze for a minimum of 20 minutes. 

Enjoy!

momstown's Little Scientists Discover Fall!

We continued our fall festival with momstown by inviting our Little Scientists to Family Fitness World for a “fall exploration and discovery day.” Science is all about exploration and discoveries. Providing the opportunity for momstown’s Little Scientists to explore encourages questioning and creativity! We had two centers open for discovery: one with leaves and twigs, and one with pumpkins.

For the leaf center, each child was asked to bring a small bag of leaves and twigs to share and explore. We provided contact paper for the children to make “leaf collages,” and magnifying glasses for up-close discoveries. Some of the children sorted leaves, some smelled leaves, and one even tasted the leaves! The best discovery we made at the leaf center was finding a couple of ladybugs that were hiding in our leaves. The children were so intrigued watching them crawl around on the table!

At the pumpkin center, we had cut open a couple of pumpkins and scraped out some of the seeds. We encouraged the children to feel and smell the pumpkin seeds and to scoop out more with their hands or with a spoon. Magnifying glasses were used to check out the seeds up close. Tasting happened yet again. Several of the children made the discovery that pumpkin seeds are slippery. It was so much fun seeing the children as they made their discoveries! We can’t wait to head back to Family Fitness World next month!

Interested in what momstown has to offer? Check us out and sign up for our free trial!

momstown's Nutella Buddies Brunch

Nutella knows how important breakfast is to every child – they sponsored our Buddies Brunch with free samples and giveaways. Each of the kids brought their little buddy from a home, a stuffed animal or teddy bear to join in on the fun!

We know how much those Teddy Bears love honey so we made bracelets from Honeycombs and read "Where's my Teddy?" by Jez Alborough! Next everyone stood up and we went on a bear hunt! The kids pretended to climb through tall grass, go through sticky mud and swim through a wide river to find the bears cave! 

After the kids finished their bear hunt we enjoyed a potluck lunch! The kids snacked on a ton of treats while the mama's visited! They were very happy to go home with gifts courtesy of Nutella!

This event was held at The Toy Hutch - the fantastic new inflatable play park in West Edmonton! Both the mama's and the kids are thrilled with this brand new location! They specialize in birthday party rentals but also have drop in days Wednesday-Friday. Check out pictures of this amazing facility below!