My new venture: Baby Meets Trail

It hasn't been the best kept secret, so you may already be aware that I've been working on yet another blog...I've been cheating on my first two blogs you might say. It's taken ages to pull together, but I finally launched Baby Meets Trail this weekend.

For now the content is mostly based on my Urban Baby and Toddler column (new issue on newsstands now!). I did manage to fit in a few additional walks so it's not just a repeat of the magazine. The blog does have a few features you won't find in the magazine: more pictures, links to relevant sites, and maps of each route!

I'm hoping it becomes a bit of a community place where Lower Mainland moms and dads can pop by on occasion to help pick out an outing for the weekend and perhaps leave a comment after completing one of the walks. Down the road I plan to set up Flickr groups so people can post pictures of their Baby Meets Trail walks and I'll also be adding some icons to highlight some of the key information a bit more readily.

I've tagged each post based on its location, type of stroller needed, terrain and whether there are washrooms and change tables or not so it's easy for readers to find exactly the type of walk their looking for. These first seven walks are all pretty easy ones, but I'll definitely be adding more extreme stroller walks down the road. Perhaps a little something like this one on Bowen Island...

Please take a moment to pop on over and check it out...feel free to follow and pass it along to your friends. I hope you enjoy the new blog. Now go hit the trails!

A classic: smocked dresses

Perhaps it's a little wishful thinking, but I decided to take a crack at sewing a few summer dresses for Abner recently. Wishful thinking in that we certainly haven't had much need for summer frocks around here these days. Our heat still kicks on occasionally for Pete's sake!

First on the list was the adorable smocked dress from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. I've wanted to try out this pattern for ages; ever since seeing the cute version Miranda made last year. I knew it was going to be fairly easy, but I didn't realize I could knock off four of them in a weekend! Not only did I make this sweet one for Abner, but I also managed to crank out three more which were given as gifts to some of the little girls in our circle of friends.

For a wee one like Abner, half a meter was all that was needed. It's a bit on the long side this year, but it will either be a perfect fit dress next summer or will make a great top for a few years to come.

One of the greatest things about smocking (or shirring, depending on who you ask) is the elasticized thread. If you haven't had a chance to try it out, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. All you have to do is hand-wind the elastic thread around your bobbin and sew like you normally would. Once all the lines are in the fabric will start to gather a bit, but the real magic happens once you iron it! As soon as the steam and heat from the iron hit the thread, it puckers up instantly. So freakin' cool, I tell ya.

It seems I'm not the only one to whip up a few of these dresses lately. Soule Mama herself has done up a few for her little daughter recently too. I love the subtle variations she's done in using straps instead of ties. Will definitely have to try that one next time.

Messed about again

Well, give me a few spare minutes and I'll surely find a way to waste them. This evening I spent time learning how to code a new background on the blog and format a new header using Photoshop skills I haven't put to use in almost 10 years!. Hope you like what I've come up with.

Sunny days are here again!

The sun wasn't here for long, but we did manage to enjoy it!

 

 

Of course, as I write this, it's been raining almost all day. Ah, West Coast weather...you're a fickle beast.

Lost in translation: Part deux

A couple of months ago I posted about some of the more amusing things coming out of Abner's mouth. Today I bring you the second installment for your reading pleasure.

jahboom = bedroom
majaneen = magazine
upamit = ultimate (this comes up often as TDSH plays ultimate frisbee every week)
cabalope = cantaloup
gorilala = gorilla
dishulous = delicious
slipullers = slippers

TWO!

Abner turned two earlier this month. It's such a cliche, but I really can't believe she's two already. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital.

To kick off the big day, we gave Abner her gifts first thing in the morning. The gifts were a motley collection of useful items like socks, a Mr. Bump ice pack and an umbrella, along side fun stuff like books, a new dress (made by mommy) and the best gift of all...a new bike! We opted for a wooden run (or push) bike instead of a trike. Run bikes are great because the kids learn about balance right from the get-go, but there are no pedals to deal with; you're feet stay on the ground and you just run along!

In the afternoon we hosted eight kids and their parents for what was supposed to be a bash in a nearby park. Sadly, the weather did not totally cooperate and we were forced indoors...did I mention there were eight kids plus Abner? Did I mention we live in a small apartment? Crazy, you say?! Thankfully, we have a fantastic, huge party room in the building so the kids were able to run amok while the parents tried to keep up with them.

Here's a snap shot of my little girl at two:

Weight: 28 lbs
Length: 89 cm
Hair: very, very blond and curly (especially in the back)
Teeth: 20 (neither TDSH or I noticed when she got the last set of molars...does that make us bad parents...or just lucky parents? Hmmm...)
Talents: talking; counting to thirty; putting on her own pants, shoes and jacket; taking off her own clothes, 
Favorite things: books (especially "The Wheels on the Bus"), parenting magazines (because there are lots of pictures of babies), puzzles, picking up rocks or pinecones to put in her pockets, climbing up and down stairs, doing things herself, beans, noodles, fruit, sleeping with mommy and daddy's t-shirts, crawling into the big bed (mommy and daddy's), brushing her teeth (such a change from a few months ago), stirring her own food, hiding under towels after bathtime, pretending to put mommy or daddy to bed, and putting ice on her head whenever she gets hurt.

Happy birthday little one!

Party favours by mommy

Last weekend we hosted a flock of two-year-olds for Abner's second birthday. Lots to say about that event, but for now I just wanted to show you all the little party favour bags I prepared. They are one of the easiest projects I've ever made.

I used tea towel fabric to make the bags. It's super cheap and comes on a bolt like regular fabric but two of the edges are already finished. To make the bags:

1. Fold the length in half so that the finished edges are even.
2. Cut whatever size you want for the bag (mine were 10 inches wide)
3. Cut a length of twill tape twice as wide as your bag (i.e. 20 inches)
4. Fold the twill tape in half and place its folded edge on the edge of your fabric (on the fabric's right side)
5. Keeping the twill tape in place, fold the fabric so the right sides are together.
6. Pin the twill tape in place so you don't have to worry about it shifting around.
7. Sew up both sides of the bag (I also zigzagged the edges to prevent fraying).
8. Flip it right side out and you're done.

The contents were a mixture of Abner's favourite things like stickers and fruit bites alongside some classics: play dough and cookie cutters. I love that play dough recipe. As written it makes a really small amount, so I had to make three triple batches to make enough for all the kids. My arm was just about ready to fall off by the end! Abner loves playing with the little bit we didn't give away.

Anyone got ideas for other uses for these bags? They're so easy to make, I think I might try to sell them somewhere.

First haircut: The ultimate DIY project

We finally did it. After almost exactly two years, we FINALLY cut Abner's hair. It went amazingly well in no small part because she's used to having someone tug, comb and play with her hair each and every morning. She didn't exactly keep her head still the entire time, but thankfully, her curly hair is quite forgiving of any unevenness.

TDSH did a great job documenting the event and I've kept a baggie of the clippings for posterity (only mildly creepy, right?).