The Wishlist

Another week, another batch of baby goodies I have stumbled across! Here is what's topping the wishlist for the week...Enjoy!


* The Ubabub Pod *
Another highly innovative and modern cot, the Ubabub oozes awesome. I love the rounded cocoon shape and clear acrylic sides, making gazing at your sleeping babe even more enjoyable! Maybe if there is ever (key word being ever!) a baby #3, I would be lucky enough to indulge in this stunning design.



* Blouse and Pinafore by Vintage Made. *
Nothing screams sweet more than red and strawberries. This darling little blouse is sweeter than the real thing with teeny tiny printed berries and ruffled sleeves. Considering my love for the colour red on baby girls, I have deemed this beautiful little outfit totally necessary! And to add to the sweetness? It's handmade!




* Stokke Bounce 'n' Sleep *
Remember the times you tried to jump in the shower at the speed of light while your newborn was napping in the bassinet? The baby monitor sat on the bathroom sink and you jerked your shampoo lathered head out at the sound of a pin dropping? Well, those days are long gone. One of my favourite baby designers Stokke have bought out a new product; a combination of a bouncer and a daybed. Meaning you can transfer your sleeping baby from room to room while you tidy and organise or easily transition a playing and alert babe for restful, peaceful sleep. Stokke have done it again!

* Calamity Bolt Hobby Horse *
As a child I always wanted a pretty hobby horse and have taken my yearning further by searching for the perfect one for Stella and her baby sister to play with as they grow. Sadly, at markets I was unable to find anything that pleased the eye. And then I stumbled across This. These hobby horses are so feminine and soft and each design is one of a kind. They would look adorable in the corner of any little girls bedroom and would be sure to bring a smile to any childs day!



* Doodle Highchair by Silver Cross *
I am so sad to see that this product is now an end of line highchair. I am always a fan of convertible and re-usable baby products and this highchair is no exception. It changes from a feeding to chair to a table with a tray- perfect for doodling at with pretty coloured pencils. The hidden basket is a wonder design for toddlers who love to hide bits and pieces!


* The Three BFF Gnomes *
These little guys by Little Odd Forest are adorable. Handmade plushes that act as magical cushions for a little ones chair. I love the woodland touch these would provide to a nursery or playroom, I would imagine they'd even be invited to a play tea party or two! Best friends forever and totally cute for longer!




Follow me on Pinterest and let's lust over fabulous baby gear together until next weeks installment!
Plenty of love, 

Links of Late

This weeks smile inducers...

* An article I totally adore of late, is this one. "Those days don't define you" by The Hippie Housewife. She talks of having bad days, both as a parent and personally and how important forgiving yourself is. Yesterdays failures do not define our lives. I have bookmarked this inspirational read for one of those bad days, you should definitely have a read too...it will make you smile.

* I recently discovered this new blogging mama through Kaelah Bee, the wonder woman who created my blog redesign. It's wonderful to find other young blogging mamas from my very own country!
 
* Wanna make any garment in your wardrobe nursing friendly? Katie from Desert Gypsie shows you how to make any hot mama outfit... milk-maker friendly!

* What are your views on 'time out'? This post gives interesting insight as to why time out may not be as effective as previously thought.

* Is there anything cuter than baby leg-warmers? Baby legs in baby leg warmers perhaps! This Tasmanian owned website has a super huge range of sock-ings, legwarmers and tights. Get your fix of chubby leg warming goodness at Applecart Kids!

* Do you have a strong willed, energetic and stubborn toddler? (I most certainly do) This post may be helpful to you. I love the way it highlights the importance of talking to your toddler, of explaining rather than demanding and of creating choices to rid the notion of a power struggle.  

* Oh! New babies excite me so! Welcome to the world little Michelangelo, Thankyou Karina for sharing your birth story and such sweet photos of your little man. 

Our Birth Wishes

Well, I told myself that today was the day. The day to sit down, re-read the notes I have written over the past 8 months and finally write my birth plan. With my first pregnancy, I didn't have a birth plan. I was young and intimidated and thought that having certain wishes for the whole process made me seem demanding and high maintenance. I didn't feel confident enough in myself to have a vision and goal as to how I wanted my labour experience to be. Of course, no labour can be controlled and rarely do plans actually go to plan, but having preferences and desires written down can really help your support partner and midwifery team to create the experience you are wishing for. Many people I've spoken with are quite 'anti-birth plan' in fact, choosing to go with the flow and trust their bodies. I respect this view entirely as I am sure that having a rigid plan that doesn't actually go to plan could be really disheartening. I guess part of me likes the idea of a plan because it makes me feel prepared for the unknown, it gives a little false sense of security. If I replaced the word 'plan' with 'wishes'; this would be a little more reflective of the concept. These are our ultimate wishes, assuming there are no emergencies and I am able to birth naturally.

I am so excited to share this experience with Nick, but just as nervous as any first time mother! I thought I would share with you all our birth wishes.


Pre-labour and early labour

* I would prefer to avoid an induction. I would like to wait as long as possible for the onset of natural labour and if necessary be willing to try natural remedies and 'old wives tales' in an effort to bring labour on.

* In early labour I would like to try water therapy for pain relief. Using the bath and shower if this is comfortable at the time.

* We would like to consider a full water birth, if this feels right at the time and the midwives and doctors are able to support this decision. I would like my partner in the water with me.

* I would also like to use heatpacks for early pain relief

* I would like to try to remain as calm and relaxed as possible using breathing techniques, music and meditation support from my partner.

* I am happy to have medical students attend my labour, however not to have them involved in decision making or procedures (stitches post-birth, pain relief administration)

* My partner and I would like to document our labour and birth experience with many photos and note writing.

* We do not wish to have visitors or phone calls during labour.

* I would prefer to have the lighting dimmed as much as possible during labour and after birth.

Second and third stages of labour

* I would like to be encouraged to remain physically active to cope with pain and to encourage the progress of labour. I would like to be reminded and encouraged to try different labouring positions.

* My partner and I would like to be kept aware of the stages of labour we are going through and it's progression as well as regular discussions about our options and feelings about the labour.

* If possible, I would like to avoid excessive monitoring that may restrict my ability to move freely. If it is necessary that I am induced, I would like as much time free from monitors whilst in the second stage of labour so I am able to remain physically active and move in a way my body is asking me to. 

* I am happy to have morphine and gas. I do not want to have an epidural. If I change my mind during labour, I'd like to be reminded of the advantages and disadvantages of both morphine and an epidural.
 
* I do not want an episiotomy and would really like to avoid tearing. I am happy to try positions in which this can be achieved and would like guidance and reassurance from my midwives during the pushing stage to avoid this. However, I would prefer to tear than to have an episiotomy or intervention.

* Nick would like to help guide the baby when crowning and place the baby on me. Nick would also like to cut the cord.

Post birth

* I am happy to have Syntocinon to assist with the birth of the placenta.

* I would like to have naked skin to skin contact with our baby straight after birth. I would like to be reminded to remove clothing from my top-half before beginning the pushing stage.

* Nick would also like to have skin to skin contact with our baby in the hours after birth.

* I would like to see a Lactation Consultant as soon as possible after birth and receive as much assistance as possible from a Lactation Consultant during the days after birth and once discharged.

* We would like as much time as possible alone with our baby before being moved into the maternity ward or showered.

* I would prefer to have our baby sponge bathed only for the first few days and no soap/lotions/chemical products used until discharge.

* We would prefer not to have visitors in hospital especially if we are discharged early. We have informed people of our decisions but please kindly remind anyone who comes to visit that we would prefer them not to do so when not in the hospital environment. We would like to focus on bonding, feeding and settling with just the three of us and the midwives support for the first 2 days we are in hospital.

And that's it! Our plan that may not go to plan! Our wishes and desires for the way we want to bring out daughter into the world. I am so ready, so nervous and so excited all at once. Let the next 6 weeks fly by! I plan to share with you the reasons behind some of the decisions we have made in our plan over the next few weeks. Did you have a birth plan written before labour? Feel free to link me up to your birth plan posts, I would love to read some others!
Plenty of love, 

Longing to Connect

Connection. It's something most parents yearn for with their children and many strive to achieve on a daily basis. It's something that for me, was easy to obtain when Stella was younger. There's plenty of opportune moments when snuggling up for a feed, rocking to a lullaby and settling to sleep, plenty of time to breathe in the quite and stillness of the moment and to gaze into your childs eyes.

Young babies rely on you wholly for physical and emotional comfort and if you give all you have...an indescribable degree of connection is formed. Connection achieved with the utmost of love; the unconditional and protective love that a parent holds for their child.

Now that Stella is older, there is less room for those sleepy cuddles and long relaxed gazes. With each month that she gets a little older, our days seem to be filled with more and more of those monotonous daily tasks. Setting boundaries and explaining the why's and hows of things seems to be what each moment is all about...and each moment seems to fly by with tested patience, tantrums and fixing what gets undone. I feel as though I am struggling to connect with Stella emotionally.

It's something I've been thinking about quite regularly... especially when at the end of the day, the only way I have been able to emotionally connect with my toddler is to lift her out of her bed once she's fallen into a deep sleep and cuddle her tightly. With all the exploring, running, eating and dancing that is done in a toddlers day, sitting down for a little moment of reconnection is certainly not feasible.

So, how? How do you reconnect with your child and bring back the bond amongst the daily banal? I am yet to find these answers but I will search within myself until I do. One of my favourite sources of inspiration as a mother at the moment is this blog written about Attachment Parenting. I find myself more and more drawn to this concept and the values is represents. It seems that attachment parenting has all the answers I need to get through these slight phases of insecurity and unsettlement, and the more I read, learn and research about the topic the more aware I am of my parenting abilities.

Tell me, have you ever felt a little disconnected from your child? Or had a longing to connect and bond like you did when they were so snuggly and dependant? How do you connect with such a busy little being in such a busy busy lifestyle?

Share with me your thoughts! I'd love to hear what you think.
Plenty of love, 

Sweet Child Of Ours

Sweet child,

I have an idea in my head and a feeling in my heart about who you are.

 I can picture you asleep and imagine your soft voice. You are delicate and quiet; a humble and honest little girl. You seem shy and reserved although not afraid to stand up for what you believe. You are content with the small things and see beauty in the mundane. Your eyes always speak louder than your voice.

Of course, these predictions may be completely wrong. You may be as equally confident  and adventurous as your older sister...But I have a feeling in my heart of  how you might be.

Not long now until you enter this world; we have been waiting for you. Your blankets are folded and your bed is made. Our arms are waiting to hold you close, our hands are ready to stroke your sweet head.

Love surrounds you whilst you continue to grow inside, We can't wait to meet you... 
our sweet little child.

3 simple goals a day

I am the queen of lists, I even have lists of my lists. Call it an obsession but keeping them makes me feel organised and motivated, and I'd be pretty darn lost without them! Lately, with the exhaustion of pregnancy and raising a toddler I've found that my extensive to-do lists rarely gets looked it. Instead of things being ticked off...there are constantly things being added. Sometimes looking at my list induces more stress than it is worth!

So, I have since decided that rather than going into a slightly mad-mama frenzy everytime I glance at my lists, I would instead create smaller and more friendly ones. Goals and to-do's that are more achievable, less daunting and simple...It's called my '3 simple goals a day' project.

Each night before falling asleep, I'll think about three enjoyable things I can do to make my day feel more productive. Sometimes they are important, other times they are purely things I want to do but wont if I don't make a conscious decision to 'get around to it'. To add a little more fun (and because, lets face it an iPhone is more efficient than a piece of paper) I've prettied them up using a new app and been posting them to my Instagram.



The results so far? Success! Knowing that I have those three little things to do that will improve my mood, my parenting or my productivity is a huge booster for days when motivation is seriously lacking.

I recently read a saying; "Every day may not be good, but there is some good in every day". My 3 simple goals a day project aims for just that...to put some good in every day.

If you are lacking motivation and drive and your to-do's are piling up around you, why not join me and create your own 3 simple goals a day project? Perhaps post them to Instagram or tweet them for extra determination, I'd love to see what simple things you come up with in an effort to maximise happiness in your days!

If you are interested in joining me, I have created a button for you to link up with. Grab the code and use the image to complement your own 3 simple goals a day post. Don't forget to tag me if you share them via Instagram (@natalie_winterlove) or Twitter (@winterlove_nat) so I can follow your journey along the way!

<a href="http://natalie-winterlove.blogspot.com.au/"><img src="http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q590/ngearman/simoplefoalswhitecopy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>


I can't wait to see what simple goals you come up with!
Plenty of love,

Baked with Love; slow cooked Sausage Casserole

This weeks easy-peasy family recipe is slow cooked sausage casserole. We recently made the leap and purchased a slow cooker and haven't looked back since! It fills the house with such a scrumptious aroma, whilst requiring a minimal amount of work. Mama and baby play while the sausages cook away! Enjoy...

Slow cooked Sausage Casserole





Ingredients:
500 grams sausages, cut into bite sized pieces
1 onion
5 cubed potatoes
4 sliced carrots
1 cup of frozen peas
1 tablespoon curry powder
3 cups of beef stock
2 tablespoons of cornflour

Method:
Add all ingredients to slow cooker, cover, cook on low for 6 hours
Add cornflour to slow cooker 30 minutes before serving to thicken.

I love that all I am required to do for this big family meal is chop the ingredients and place them in the slow cooker. It really can't get any easier than that!
Plenty of love,