Sunday, January 30, 2011

Coquitlam Mommy Newsletter - Jan 30, 2010

Coquitlam Mommy Page Highlights and Events





As our numbers continue to grow... so does our newsletter and events! Please keep sharing your thoughts and ideas as continue to improve the page & grow!

With our weather looking pretty fantastic for the upcoming week, I have challenged the Coquitlam Mom's to the '5 lbs' Challenge! This is a challenge to get out there, get active and share your eating right recipe's with the group so we can drop 5lbs in a month, challenge begins in Feb and ends in March 1st

Also there has been a huge amount of discussion about the programs that are cost conscious in the Tri-Cities area! As many of us are on EI or some sort of reduced income with the addition of our little ones, I have started to put together a local calendar to refer to for events under $5 or FREE! Check out this link on our Facebook Page for more info! Calendar Link

Lil Page Turners of the Week
Are You My Mommy?
Are You My Mommy? - Carla Dijs  This book gave a few of us a good laugh this week as we were discussing our little ones using Mamma and Pappa with everyone that would listen. This is a really cute set of books that also includes are you my 'daddy'. There are quite a few animals to discuss with your little ones too! Worth checking out for a sweet day time read with the little one.





On the Stereo for Lil Ears

There's A Hippo In My TubThere's a Hippo in my Tub - Anne Murray- She is one of Canada's most well knows folk singers. If you were a product of the 80's or 90's you will remember her specials on the cliffs of the East Coast and through out Canada. She has several albums, and has now lent her voice to a children's album. This may even be a nice treat for the grandparents for their special time with your wee one!





Coquitlam Mommy Page Events for the Week

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


Highlights of the Week from Coqutilam Mommy Page (Facebook)

Recalls:
Other News:
Last Weeks Highlights
Download Images:





Coquitlam Mommy Page Blog Highlights

Our Resource Page - Yawns, Sniffles and On the Road - We have added this as a Resource Page for families looking for further reading on common issues. We will be adding to this page as we grow. Let me know if you have anything to add to this. 







Coquitlam Mommy Page started with 9 women who had taken a prenatal class at Douglas College in Winter 2010. After having our reunion to meet all the babies, we discovered that all of our group was wanting to get out, get active with the babies and share our experiences. We started with a group walk at Rocky Point for 5 km that grew to numbers of 15 on sunny days in the summer, and we have grown from there. As the months have gone on we have shared everything from diaper choices, places to find deals, highchair options, breast feeding issues, events to attend together and everything else that a new mom may need to chat about. We are still growing and have been greatly inspired by all the new members that share and attend our events. In short we are here as a community for mom's in the Tri-cities and elsewhere to discuss issues and ideas with other moms. With all the information out there, it is fantastic to hear what real moms are doing. 


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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Scrap Booking Babies First Year

There is a lot to be said about capturing those precious moment you have with your newborn. These little guys grow so quickly it is hard to keep up with them as the move from just needing to be held to rolling, blowing raspberries, and crawling. As the time passes by it is great for you to be able to look back and reflect with your hubby or just have a misty eyed moment when they are too big to want to be held.

I am they type of girl that likes things basic but clean and uniform. When I first went to Michael's when I was pregnant to start a pregnancy album, I was very overwhelmed by all the choices. There is a whole aisle of books/album covers to choose from. These can range from canvas to leather and everything in between. I would recommend picking your colour theme at this stage. For example; if its a boy, maybe blue or green, a summer trip maybe yellow or electric blue. I do love being able to look at the covers on the shelf and know what each one is, but you may want something more aesthetic keeping them all one colour. Most of these albums come with pages in them and some even come with a complete kit. Keep in mind that you may just want to start with what's there and add the pages as need be. I have gone with the kits and with buying separate and found that I am cheaper when buying the kit. If you give yourself too many choices you end up with too many stickers and add-ons that you may not need.

I would also recommend printing off the basic photos you would like to highlight in your album. At least this way you will have a better gauge on the types of stickers, stamps and other applications you would like to add to the pages. This will also give you an idea of what size of book you will need. If you have a lot of photos you may want to double up on each pages' photos or even have more. Also take a look at the photo's and decide on a colour theme. If you are going with all black and white it is usually better to stay that way but if you are doing colour, try to not drown out your photos with everything else on the page.

The next major step is mounting the pictures to the pages. You can do this a couple of ways. I have used both the double sided option and the corner tabs. I prefer the corner tabs when it comes to a more formal album as it gives an antique look. If you are going to be cutting edges and adding borders, I would recommend the simple dispenser.

A few pointers that have kept my scrapbooks interesting is the things I have collected along the way. I have included the wrist and ankle bands from the hospital, the card that was placed on my sons incubator and pictures of his first shoes. These will be the things that will bring the experience and story back to life for you. I also find that sharing my albums is a bit more interesting.

A few products you will want to pick-up to make sure your project is straight, and in the end not a hot mess...
A couple great books to take out from the library or buy would be:
And my final point would be that this is a great activity with a group of other moms! It is amazing the creativity that comes out of other mom's and a group collective. The additional benefit to this is that you can share and trade supplies that you have with other moms. 

Please share any other links that you may find helpful for other moms!
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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Coquitlam Mommy Newsletter - Jan 23, 2010

Coquitlam Mommy Page Highlights and Events



This week we have had a large growth in our numbers and postings shared by our readers. I lieu of this I have posted a summary of highlights this week. Please keep sharing your thoughts and ideas and we will continue to improve the page as we grow!


On a side note, I just wanted to add a bit of a back story on the Coquitlam Mommy Page. We were started by 9 women that all took a prenatal class at Douglas College in Winter 2010. After having our reunion to meet all the babies, we discovered that all of our group was wanting to get out, get active with the babies and share our experiences. We started with a group walk at Rocky Point for 5 km that grew to numbers of 15 on sunny days in the summer, and we have grown from there. As the months have gone on we have shared everything from diaper choices, places to find deals, highchair options, breast feeding issues, events to attend together and everything else that a new mom may need to chat about. We are still growing and have been greatly inspired by all the new members that share and attend our events. In short we are here as a community for mom's in the Tri-cities and elsewhere to discuss issues and ideas with other moms. With all the information out there, it is fantastic to hear what real moms are doing. 

Lil Page Turners of the Week

Alphabet (Paula Wiseman Books)
Alphabet, Matthew Van Fleet I received this book as a Christmas gift for my son this Christmas and he absolutely loves it! I have read this to him several times and love the fact that he can hold the pages, interact with all the textures and pull tabs on the pages. As an added bonus there is also an Alphabet Poster included for when your little one grows a bit and is ready to learn their letters. I would recommend this as a must have for any new family. 


On the Stereo for Lil Ears


Yo Gabba Gabba: Music Is AwesomeYo Gabba Gabba, Music is Awesome - This will surely become a classic in your home! I heard this album from a friend that showed me the video for 'Party in my Tummy' on You Tube and have been so entertained by the reaction of all kids to this album. I was pretty shocked to see the line-up that has performed on this Nick Jr. show;  Jack Black, Leslie Hall, The Shins, The Aggrolites, Andy Samberg, Cornelius, Biz Markie, Shiny Toy Guns, Supernova, Mark Mothersbaugh, Rahzel, The Postmarks, Sugarland, Tony Hawk, The Roots, Low, Laila Ali, Elijah Wood, Mýa, The Salteens, Sean Kingston. Two of my favorite songs are the (Pick it Up Song & Yummy in my Tummy)


Coquitlam Mommy Page Blog Highlights

Our Resource Page - Yawns, Sniffles and On the Road - We have added this as a Resource Page for families looking for further reading on common issues. We will be adding to this page as we grow. Let me know if you have anything to add to this. 

Whats Mom Cooking? -  We hope to share recipe's for the little ones and for families preparing dinners.

Coquitlam Mommy Page Events for the Week

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Future Mom Events:


Highlights of the Week from Coqutilam Mommy Page (Facebook)

Recalls:
Other News:
Download Images:

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Monday, January 3, 2011

Snowshoeing With Your Little One!

Mount Seymour
With the snowy weather here and so much for us to do with our little ones... I wanted to share one of my
passions! Over the last few years I have really come to love snowshoeing. As an avid hiker and runner, this is a great sport to take on in the winter and keep fit.

There are a few basics to remember when getting prepared for snowshoeing! I am not a snowshoe instructor, but this is how I prepare my little family for a day on the mountain (based on over 29 years of skiing and a few instructing.)

  • For Mom & Dad I would recommend the following clothing to bundle up with:
    • Shell Coat (See picture above) The one in the Photo is by Nike and came with a liner fleece vest and breathing vents in the armpits for added cooling when my body temperature gets up there. You can find these at MEC as well. Great buy for all seasons, but be sure to get one with a water resistant coating (water proof tend not to breath)
    • Snow Pants - be sure to pick a waterproof or water resistant pair to keep dry. Make sure there is breathability to your pants. 
    • You will also need a good pair of Long Johns underneath. You can also do a thicker pair and do some tights underneath. Remember to avoid cotton underneath as if they get wet you will be cold for the rest of the day. Even just sitting in the snow and having the snow sneak down your back can lead to a cold day. 
    • On your base layer I would recommend a turtle neck or long-sleeve with a zip that will breath but keep you warm. My favorite base layers on the top have wool as the major component and tend to not carry moisture as long. You can go with a Polyester as well such as this one for a good price. 
    • Sox are really important! Make sure you have wool based ski sox or just simple woolen sox. Do not wear Cotton or you will be a cold and grumpy parent with a tot in the snow. I also own these ones and love them!
    • Gloves also need to be chosen very carefully as this will keep you free to help your little one and warm enough to make it through an hour or two on the mountain. I have a thinner pair that I wear on warmer days such as these, and on colder days I put on a second shell type mitten as I have poor circulation in my hands. If you are not as picky as me you can do a typical glove... see below with the hand warmers for a colder day!
    • And finally if you are looking for snowshoes to buy, I recommend going a few times to see if you really like the sport. My and my hubby bought these MSR's last year and have been completely happy with the traction on icy and powder. We also like the extensions for deep powder and of course the price is the best on the market for all mountain snowshoes. You can go more expensive such as the ones my parents bought last year but this is for those that want to be more competitive with the sport or are looking for specifications. Poles are also a great thing to take along to keep your balance and check the snow depth when out there! (Rentals for snowshoes are available at all mountains listed below. 
    • The final important factor is a good pair of hiking boots that are worn in and not brand new, and have been treated with a water resistant spray to stop your feet from getting wet and cold.  This are a personal choice for your use... but I have gone through a few pairs of Salomons and a few Keens that I have now stuck with.  
    • Remember a good pair of sunglasses too, as it gets quite bright up there in the snow!
  • First on my list for baby was a great carrier & I chose the ERGO carrier. The benefit of this carrier is that you can wear this on your back as well as front. When you have the baby on your back you have a reduced risk for injury if you fall or trip forward. If the trail is a bit more smooth you can take advantage of pulling them in a trailer for a luxury trip for the little one! You can also look at a steel framed back carrier for a larger child over 1 year old. 




Infantino Front 2 Back Rider Baby Carrier, Black and GreyFlexible Flyer Wooden Baby SleighFlexible Flyer Pad for Baby Sleigh

  • If your baby is a picky baby when it comes to his or her bottles, you may want to pick-up a cooler bag from a local shop. I have found them at the dollar store and zeller for a really good price. I would also recommend picking up some Hand Warmers from your local sports store to keep them room temperature for the little one. This is also a great place to stick a few diapers and wipes for and emergency situation. 
  • You can also find snug bottle cases by companies such as Munchkin, that will keep a bottle a bit more warm when carrying them on hand for the trip. 
  • Last but not least is the basics, and this includes a hat with a chin stap or ties and mittens to keep those little hands and head warm! And a warm snowsuit that will keep their temperature right. I would recommend a suite that can be unzipped to cool down and one piece to keep the warmth in, with a hood. 


  1. Go on a nature walk - see how many different animals you can find. Don't forget to 
      Grouse Mountain
    bring binoculars!
  2. Sugar on snow - scoop up some freshly fallen snow and cover it with sticky maple syrup.
  3. Go on a moonlight snowshoe adventure - These are great fun especially with headlamps.
  4. Build a campfire for an afternoon lunch or an evening warm up - add s'mores and hot chocolate to enlarge smiles. (make sure this is authorized for the region or you are with a guide that has experience)
  5. Be a tracker - bring your animal track card along. Identify their tracks and maybe find out where they live.
Local Mountains for Snowshoeing:

Mount Seymour - This mountain has great look-outs over the city for a fantastic afternoon hike ... this can be a really epic view on a clear day! Dog friendly trails on the lower portion of the mountain. 

Grouse Mountain- Great for taking a trip on the tram with the family and seeing a unique view of the city. These trails can be a bit more difficult than Grouse but are definitely worth checking out. Not a dog friendly mountain. 

Mount Seymour Look-Out
Cypress Mountain - fantastic mountain that offers free trails as well as unique tours that include fondue and so much more. This mountain has a dog friendly portion on the lower half. 

Whistler / Blackcomb - This is a day trip but always worth the effort. You will have world class views, trails, and food to enjoy!


Manning Park Resort - 2 Hours away from Coquitlam







Coquitlam Mommy Page Snowshoe Events in January 

January 6th - Baby and Me at Seymour
January 13th - Baby and Me at Seymour



Check out Coquitlam Mommy Page on Facebook for more events and discussions or our Coquitlam Mommy Blog

Further Reading:
http://www.snowshoemag.com/first.cfm

Cheap Deals online for Outdoor Gear (Skiing/Snow/Biking)


For these sites, the product changes when the time period is up so it is just a gamble of what is being sold off at the moment. 

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