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Cooking up some fun with the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magic Color Mixing Bowl
When it comes to pretend play, my kids are expert chefs. I mean, I would know, since I’ve had to pretend sample all of their – errr – delicious foods, brought to me on tiny saucers and in tiny cups. My baby boy has since learnt the art of throwing together a bunch of invisible ingredients into a bowl and turning it into an invisible masterpiece. It’s wonderful to watch, no really.
When we received the Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Magic Color Mixing Bowl I knew it would be an instant hit! Your baby can mix up lots of yummy pretend food with this magical mixing bowl.
This light-up musical mixing bowl ‘magically’ knows when little bakers place the ingredients inside and rewards every put-and-take action with colorful lights, music, sounds, and learning phrases.It has six removable ‘ingredient’ play pieces, two buttons that activate more fun songs and sounds, and an adorable light-up face… Asher was beside himself!
I love that the toy introduces him to the alphabet, colors and numbers. It also helps to develop those fine motor skills through grasping and moving the play pieces in and out of the mixing bowl, helping to strengthen his dexterity and hand-eye coordination. It also encourages those thinking skills by introducing him to the fun of cause and effect as he figures out how to activate the lights and music by placing the ingredients in the bowl or pressing the two buttons.
If you’re looking for a cool Christmas gift for your baby (it’s perfect for babies aged 6-36 months!) or maybe you’re just really hungry for pretend food and would like to enslave your child to cook for you – you should totes consider investing in the Magic Color Mixing Bowl. Fisher Price is known for their quality toys.Oh AND the best part (for me, atleast) is that it comes with 6 removable play pieces, including rattle egg, milk bottle, set of 2 measuring cups, pretend cherries, BPA-free teethable chocolate bar, and spoon for stirring.
For more information check out the Fisher Price website.
You can purchase Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Magic Color Mixing Bowl from Toys R Us
Disclaimer: This post was paid for by Fisher Price
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Pregnant again?
Now, as you may know, I have a lot of children, and (like all other children) they are especially cute… so one could say that we’ve done a good job at creating kids. Right?
Until I give off a whiff of my favorite scent – Eau De Pregnant – and people start losing their metaphorical ish. Because, apparently, I’m only allowed to be pregnant a certain amount of times AND within a certain period, or else I’m straight up being sloppy… and that’s not a good look.
Well, that’s what I heard from all the ‘CEO of Ovaries‘ who cared to weigh in on the topic.
So yes, I’ve been told to take a break from baby making, I’ve also been advised to not fall pregnant again. (The word “again” used as an obvious and necessary way to highlight that I’ve been “with child” one too many times for their liking.) Clearly, my ovaries have fulfilled it’s baby making quota and I need to curb my enthusiasm.
Sir, Yes Sir.
Aye, aye Captain!
So thankful for all these regular reminders, you know? It’s, like, SOOOO helpful!*insert eye roll*
But hey, subliminal bitterness aside, I’m actually pretty immune (read: numb) to comments about the mass production of little William’s that we’ve managed to create and oversee. I mean, one could say that I’m an expert at the polite laugh and quirky comeback already. I don’t even get offended anymore.
But, my own thick skin aside, I didn’t realise just how damaging thoughtless comments could be until someone close me fell pregnant and refused to let anyone know.
Now, this person is married, has a bunch of kids already and provides a stable and happy home environment for all of them. So why be afraid to let people know that she’s pregnant again? Well, because apparently it’s okay to have an opinion about someone else’s ovaries. I mean, don’t tell a school girl what type of hairstyle she’s allowed to wear, and God forbid you try to tell a boy to only play with blue toys, but hey, if you’re needing an outlet, DO tell a Pregnant Mama that she shouldn’t be pregnant again.Because, you know, “the rest of us” are not wanting to have more than 1 or 2 babies so, uhm, you should follow that pattern too, Pregnant Mama! How DARE YOU do what YOU want with your own body!!! The outrage! The audacity! Somebody call the EFF immediately, we need some protest action! We demand a lock down level 5 of your ovaries!
*Cough* Okay, that went a bit too far.
Anyways, said Pregnant Mama called me to let me know that she was expecting baby number 7 soon. My reaction? “Oh wow, that’s amazing, why didn’t you tell me earlier?!” She explained that this would probably be her last baby and that she really wanted to enjoy this pregnancy, without the onslaught of negative comments.
Fair enough.
Pregnant Mama went on to tell me that a doctor she visited (he’s a specialist in his field) made such a big deal about the fact that she has carried this many babies successfully. According to him… a specialist who deals with pregnant women on the regular… she should give herself a flippen pat on the back. And she should.
But instead, she chose to keep her miracle 7th pregnancy under wraps… guess why… because she didn’t want to upset OTHER people who wouldn’t appreciate that she is pregnant again. Like, HUH?!
I don’t know about you moms, but when I was pregnant, the last thing I wanted to do was worry about what other people thought about my unborn child… my blessing… my glorious gift from God! And here this Pregnant Mama chose to secretly celebrate her baby with her hubby, when all she wanted to do was tell the world how excited they are.
I guess I will always feel like a victim when this topic comes up.
And I guess that, yep, there are cases where the parents are unable to care for many children. There are situations where the home environment is not ideal for the upbringing of a child.
But I am writing as someone who is able to love and care for (financially) the many kids that I currently have… as someone who has faced judgement, even though my pregnancy’s took place within a happy marriage and stable home situation.
Not here to debate. I’m not Debora Patta.
But what I am here to say is this: don’t try to disguise your judgement as concern.
Because if you’re really concerned about a Pregnant Mama, you would know that creating an atmosphere of love and peace around her is the best thing for her and baby.
If you really are concerned about Pregnant Mama you wouldn’t try to paint her with your paint brush and then wonder why the picture comes out differently. We all have our own dreams and aspirations. Some of us want to be successful career women and entrepreneurs… some of us want to be kickass moms to as many kids as possible. Some of us want to be (and CAN be) both! Neither one is the “better” option. Susan.
And finally, if you really are concerned with Pregnant Mama you would realise that your concern is misplaced. I mean, take your concern and point it towards something that actually needs it. You know? GBV, Race Discrimination, Teenage Pregnancy… pick a struggle. Because I speak on behalf of myself and all the other “moms of many kids” when I say that our ovaries are doing juuuuust fine without your concern, thanks.
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Asher’s first birthday ‘Boss Baby’ cake smash photo shoot
I’ve been this kid’s mom for a whole year and, golly gosh, has it been sweet! I mean, sure, my pregnancy was
especiallya bit challenging and I pretty much felt as if I swallowed, like, a whole building when I was pregnant with him (the kid weighed 4,3kg at birth)… but it was totes worth it!For his birthday, this year, I knew I was going to do a cake smash photo shoot with Michelle of Cutepix, because as you may know, this is what I do for my children’s first birthday celebrations. (See Kari’s shoot here and Jonah’s shoot here)
I mean, I just can’t bring myself to spend lots of moola on a party that they probably won’t even remember. A cake smash shoot basically captures that first birthday fun, and it’s something that you can treasure for years to come.
ALSO, you guys, with lock down being what it is (you know, a much needed pain in the boody) we can’t really do a big birthday celebration anyways. In fact, Michelle told me that a lot more parents are opting to do a birthday shoot for their older kids too! She also mentioned that you can do a second and third birthday cake smash too!
Our theme for Asher’s cake smash was Boss Baby because, much like the baby in the movie, this little tike has pretty much taken over our home. He definitely is the boss! His nanny affectionately refers to him as “baasie” (which is “little boss” in Afrikaans) and the nickname has grown on us so much that we call him Baasie as if it’s his first name.
Can totes see him being an “Uncle Baasie” one day, in his old age hahaha.
Michelle does the whole set up (including cake) for her cake smash shoots AND it includes a family photo shoot and a bath session at the end of the shoot (which serves as a double win… clean baby, cute pics).
Anyways, enough with the chitchat, I know you came here to drool over some baby cheeks, so here:
All pics taken by Michelle of Cutepix
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How useful is a nappy bin? {Win with Tommee Tippee!}
As the name of my blog would suggest, I’m a bit of a nutjob when it comes to making lists. Needless to say, I knew exactly what I wanted and needed, while planning for baby Asher’s arrival. I had opted for items that were practical and efficient. Price point was important and I also wanted to know that I would get the full use of product, instead of throwing money at something that I would only use for 2 weeks. (It happens, Mary, it happens.)
Any the hoo, one of the items on my list was a nappy disposal bin BUT I wasn’t completely sold on the idea. I mean, my initial thought was “how useful is a nappy bin really?” I had managed to successfully raise 3 whole other children without one and I was pretty sure that I would be okay, sans nappy bin/diaper disposal system, this time around too.
And then I got one, you guys. And it changed my mind, like, a lot.For starters, between Jojo’s pull ups and Ash’s nappies, our previous – uhm – ‘nappy disposal method’ was stinky, to say the least. Who wants to have to deal with a bin chockablock full of dirty diapers?! Not I, sayeth the queen.
I investigated a bit more, and found out that the Tommee Tippee Twist and Click Nappy Disposal Bin is so worth the investment! I mean, it’s a kickass nappy bin, sure, but what if I told you that you could use your nappy disposal bin for so much more than just diapers! I know, my mind exploded into a billion pieces too.
Here are 5 different uses for your Tommee Tippee Twist and Click Nappy Disposal Bin. You’re welcome.
1. Top notch nappy disposal bin
The Twist & Click nappy bin keeps your home fresh and stink-free because it has guaranteed odour and germ protection (powered by Sangenic). Yep, that means less trips to the outside bin! Woohoo! The inbuilt plunger pushes up to 30 nappies deep into the bin, sealing each nappy in an anti-bacterial film, to stop germs and smells from invading your home. Very ninja-esque.
2. Sanitary napkin disposal
Once you’re done using your nappy bin for its intended use, you could repurpose the bin and use it to dispose of sanitary napkins and tampons. Yep, you heard me! Because of its sleek and compact design, the Twist & Click nappy bin fits into any room and would actually make for a really stylish looking sanitary pad disposal bin. Plus the twist and click function will ensure that each item is individually wrapped in the optimum amount of antibacterial film. Less waste! Less mess!
3. Skip the flush, bin the paper
South Africa’s water crisis has made us so aware of the amount of water we waste each time we flush the toilet. (It’s 7 to 9 litres, by the way). One of the ways that we’ve been trying to save water, is by skipping the flush. (If it’s yellow, let it mellow etc) Not flushing, every time you go, would make a big difference! But, with this practice comes the question: where do I put the toilet paper?! Well, you could use your nappy disposal bin to bin your paper hygienically. The Twist & Click nappy bin’s anti-bacterial film kills 99% of dangerous germs like e-coli and Staphyloccus Aureus.
4. Covid-19 single use itemsFor those who are in the habit of using single use masks and gloves, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m sure you’re quite pedantic when it comes to the disposal of those items. The safest thing to do is to put used masks and gloves into a plastic bag, and then seal it. Because of the “twist and click” feature, the Twist & Click nappy bin individually wraps each item in multi-layer, anti-bacterial film, making this a clever way to bin your used PPE, dramatically reducing the risk of contamination. I also appreciate that the refill cassettes are made from 98% recycled plastic.
5. Food waste
If, like me, you aren’t keen on leaving food waste in the bin where they can attract pests, develop an odor, or become covered in bacteria, why not repurpose a nappy bin to take care of the problem for you. The Twist & Click nappy bin will seal away household waste, with each click, and it’s citrus scented refill cassette will leave your kitchen smelling fresh. Plus, with its slimline, compact design and the on trend colours, it will not look out of place in your kitchen! It’s available in white, blue, green and pink.
Convinced yet? Get your very own Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Disposal System from one of these stores. You can read more about these gorgeous bins over on the Tommee Tippee website.
Win a Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Disposal System!Tommee Tippee would like to give one lucky My Spreadsheet Brain reader a Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Disposal System of their own! To enter the giveaway, simply follow the links to these posts on Instagram and Facebook, and follow the instructions there.
Terms and conditions:
You can enter on Facebook and on Instagram. Decision is final and we reserve the right to disqualify winners should entry mechanisms not be followed. Products are not redeemable for cash. Winners of any Tommee Tippee competitions in the last 6 months will not be eligible to win. Winner will be drawn on 31 July.
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Tommee Tippee. Some of the images, in this post, belong to Tommee Tippee.
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Peaceful sleep with the Tommee Tippee Grobag {Win!}
I love sleep. There, I said it. I mean, I function better when I’m well rested, you guys. It’s just, like, a fact of life! And so, because of this fact (uhh of life), I’m always super keen when a brand tells me that their product promotes better sleep for babies.
Ash has always been a good sleeper, but truth be told, I’m always super anxious when he sleeps soundly. I check on him every so often, to make sure that he is the right temperature and that his breathing is regular. I mean, you can call me paranoid, but not to my face.
And now, with Autumn in our midst, the colder weather would mean more blankets. Well, usually, right?
But what if I told you that you don’t really need more blankets, to ensure that baby is snug and comfy? I know I told you about it before, but friends, these Tommee Tippee Grobag’s are perfect for this sort of thing!
For starters, the promoting of “safer sleep for babies” is not just clever words that they say to impress you. The prestigious Lullaby Trust – a UK based charity for safe sleep, highly recommends this multi-award winning product. And, a survey done in the UK actually proved that 71% of babies slept for more than 6 hours, in their Grobag. Legit, right?
The main draw card, for me, was the fact that I don’t need to use extra blankets in his cot. The togs come in various weights and sizes, so Ash is sorted during Winter AND Summer. And, with the ample leg room in the tog, he doesn’t feel restricted. (Also, have you seen his chubby thighs? Lots of leg room is needed to house those bundles of deliciousness.)
Ensuring that your baby is the right temperature is important, since overheating can result in cot death. *shudder*
Your Grobag comes with a cute Nursery Thermometer, helping you to ensure that baby is at a safe sleep temperature. I also like that the YKK zipper and chin guard helps to prevent chafing.
But more than anything, I do appreciate that it’s easy to use, 100% cotton AND machine washable (can I cry now?), so I can pop it into the washing machine if need be. The designs are gorgeous (check them out over here) and would make for such a cool babyshower gift!
PSA: If you purchase your Grobag before end of May 2020, you can use my code: gb15spreadsheetbrain and score yourself 15% off!
Check out the Tommee Tippee online store for this and more amazing Gro products.
Win a Tommee Tippee Grobag!Tommee Tippee and My Spreadsheet Brain are giving ONE lucky reader a gorgeous Grobag! To enter, simply find this specially marked post on Instagram and follow the prompts!
Terms and conditions
Giveaway ends on 30 April. Competition is open to SA residents only. Competition is not affiliated with Instagram. T&C’s apply. Decision is final and we reserve the right to disqualify winners should entry mechanisms not be followed. Products are not redeemable for cash. Tommee Tippee will deliver goods to winner.
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Tommee Tippee
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Do you have a favorite child?
Okay, be honest (and you’re allowed to be… no judgies over here): do you have a favorite child?
Don’t look at me like that, Susan. I’m not asking you to pick which one you’d save in a fire. (But okay, while we’re on it, which one? Kidding!)
I know the immediate response to this question would be shock, horror, outrage, guilt. But having a favorite child is not as uncommon as you think.
I mean, if you had to take a quick scroll through my Instagram feed you would see that I talk about some of my kids a heck of a lot more than I do the others. I’m not even going to deny it. It’s there.
But, to be honest, when it comes to topics of conversation, Jonah’s drummer antics and Kari’s love for fashion honestly feels a lot more “sharey” than telling people what colour Asher’s poo was yesterday.
And our teenage sons would rather I don’t take pics of them… or talk about them… or talk to them… or look at them for too long… or breathe in the same air as them…So a lot of my current time is spent talking about my two littlest
bratskids. It is what it is. That doesn’t mean that they are my favorites. Gasp! What type of a mom do you think I am?! (FYI: I’m not like a regular mom, I’m a cool mom. #moviequote)But, what if I told you that research suggests that most parents have a favorite child. Some studies say that shared interests, birth order and gender play a huge part in this. And even if you feel that you don’t have a favorite, you most likely show preferential treatment to one of your kids, in some way or other.
Now, contrary to popular belief, having a favorite child doesn’t actually mean that you love one kid more than the other. People (you know, the clever people who get paid to find these things out) say that your perceived favorite usually is the one that your personality resonates with more.
Favoritism is essentially behavior-based… usually unconscious. And it’s essentially very fluid, since you could probably change your mind about it every day/week/month.
So yes, a favorite child isn’t that uncommon. But, I mean, don’t go all crazy with the cherry-picking. You don’t want to unintentionally create a sibling rivalry (ala Mufasa vs Scar). Blatantly favoring one kid over the other could potentially create insecurities that would lay a foundation for deeper issues.
I guess you could say that the ideal solution would be to not have favorites. But, to me, I try to make them all my favorite. (I know, how whimsical sounding)
But seriously, you guys, if I had to choose a fave, it would be the child that is the most well behaved (because mama’s tired).So yes, as you can see, I’m kinda torn when it comes to choosing a favorite. I think that each of them are a favorite in their own special way. I mean, they each embody something that I love, treasure and favor.
But I’m definitely more aware of my subconscious motivations… striving to love each of them exactly how THEY NEED me to love them, as individuals. And being aware of the things that set them apart… all my favorite things about them.
And, if we’re going to be completely transparent about this, they all contribute equally to mama being ‘zausted, so I guess there’s an element of balance.
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Pumping at work: tips for working moms
So when it comes to breastfeeding, it’s like, totally super fun, like, all the time!
Said no mom ever.Choosing to breastfeed your baby is a full time job, you guys. I mean, sure, it IS an absolute flippen joy to beable to feed your child with your very own bossom. Don’t get me wrong. BUT it’s taxing, for sure. And the thing about the commitment to breastfeed is that you often find yourself in the act of extracting milk from your body even when you’re not with your baby. (Pumping, it’s called pumping.)
It’s even more challenging when you’re at work and your baby feeders are needing to be emptied. But, there are ways to prepare for it, friends!
Here are a few tips (you can find more on the Medela website) to help you have a more pleasant, uhh, pumping experience, at work:
Get yo’ gear
An easy to transport bag should be holding all your breast pump equipment together. Be sure to include:
– Your breast pump (duh). I prefer the Medela range, because its sucking motion mimics that of my baby’s, which means I express more milk!
– Your storage bottles or bags. I use Ziplock bags, but you can totally purchase the handy Medela storage bags or bottles for this.
– Your marker, if you’re using Ziplock bags. Use this to date the storage bags.
– Breast pads or something to clean up with. (Leaky “other” boob, anyone?)
– Wet wipes are always handy.
– Something to read, or a pic of your baby, that can help to stimulate that let down.It would be great to have a pack like this, at work, and a separate pump at home. Take this advice from a mom who totally forgot half of her breast pump at home one time. My boobs were not happy.
Get yo’ space
You are entitled to two 30-minute breaks per day, for expressing milk for your baby at work. Did you know that? Well, you are! This right is protected by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.Drop your HR an email, before your maternity leave ends, to let them know that you will be expressing and to find out about the allowed time for this and the required private room (not a toilet) for you to pump in. We don’t have to be dramatic about it, moms. I mean, an interview room or a private boardroom will do, provided there is privacy, a comfy chair and electric outlet.
Get yo’ timing right
As your maternity leave comes to an end, begin to jot down the times when your baby would usually breastfeed. This gives you an idea of when to schedule your expressing time, at work. It will also help you to express more milk since your milk supply will usually follow the same schedule as baby’s feeding times.Hey, you could even arrange a practice day, yo! While on maternity leave, allow baby’s carer to bottle feed for the day, so that you can do a trial run of pumping at work. I usually schedule my first day back at work to be on a Friday so that I can get the hang of expressing and allow my body to adjust slowly to the new routine.
You need a Medela breast pumpOkay, I’m not just saying so because I was sponsored to. My Medela breast pump totes changed my life, you guys! This award winning breast pump does the job, and then some! Most pumps feature 2-Phase Expression technology, which mimics babies’ natural sucking rhythms, allowing mums to express more breast milk in less time. HOW COOL?!
The Medela range of breast pumps are all high standard and high performance. From a hospital-grade Symphony, to a high-performance manual Harmony pump (I love mine – it’s handbag friendly!) to the double side Freestyle electric or the mini-electric (this one is great for my night time pumps), there is basically something for everyone.
I like that Medela continuously works with researchers and developers to provide us with the best feeding and breast feeding devices and products. I mean, they take their job seriously. I appreciate that. Although challenging, your season of breastfeeding your baba is so short and special. Choose products, like the Medela’s range, that will help to make the experience of breastfeeding and the collecting, handling and storing breast milk easier and more convenient.
Disclaimer: Medela gave me one of their pumps. But I’ve owned a few over the years and I love them all! My comments in this post are completely honest.
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‘Breastfeeding 101’ points out the myths and truths of breastfeeding {Giveaway!}
My introduction to breastfeeding was an unwanted one. I was only 18 years old and I remember being so thankful that the challenging pregnancy and pain of childbirth was over.
Finally my life (and body) will return to some sort of normal, right?
But no… this was not the case. The nurse (probably shocked at my age) sternly instructed me to feed my baby. I felt a range of emotions. My body was still not my own. I had already given up 9 months of my youth to house another life. Do you mean to tell me, I now have to give up my flesh yet again, to feed the culprit too?!
The disappointment was quickly replaced with feelings of guilt (I mean, how dare I feel this way) and an overbearing sense of finality. In that moment, the young, immature, 18 year old me quickly fell away, as I realised that my life will never be the same again.
No more a girl, I had graduated into motherhood. Someone’s mother. Someones carer. I was my baby’s nurturer and sustenance… and he was my responsibility. This was my new normal.
Breastfeeding 101
Maybe your breastfeeding story looks a lot different to mine. Maybe there are similarities. Whatever the case, I know that the reality of breastfeeding can hit you right in the jugular, without you even preparing for it!
This is the very reason why I was so drawn to Leah Hawker’s phenomenal new book, Breastfeeding 101. Friends, you need to read this one! In it, Leah shines a spotlight on 101 women, telling their often surprising stories about their journey with breastfeeding.
With gorgeous portraits, accompanied with candied stories as told straight from the “mamas mouth”, Leah explores personal truths, myths and attitudes towards the subject of breastfeeding, inevitably raising topical questions about how women feel about themselves, how they are seen by others and how they are marketed to.
I was so drawn to each story – relating to each on a different level. There is beauty in the difference and I love how Leah unpacks the multiple facets of breastfeeding, by creating a space where we can connect, as women and share a “wow, me too” moment as we page through her book.
The incredibly beautiful images, that accompany each story, paints a picture of what it means to be proudly and diversely South African AND united by the overwhelming task of Motherhood, all at the same time.
Leah says: “This was an important project to me because the subject is a central axis for current debates and highlights the current influences and outside factors affecting women, breastfeeding and infant health,” says Hawker. “The book tells unique stories and reveals surprisingly uncommon knowledge. My interest, as an image maker, is looking at women’s entire identities and the multitude of facets that these can be composed of.
Now, after photographing 101 portraits, I realise there is still so much we don’t know about the subject and even about what women experience when they become mothers.
The current influences and outside factors affecting women, breastfeeding and infant health are substantial. The stories told in this book are therefore important ones.”
My friends, if you’re a book lover, or you’re looking for something fascinating to add to your coffee table, trust me, you want this book! It is a stunning collection of work by one of our own and I highly recommend it! It is available for purchase via Exclusive Books, The Book Lounge and directly from the author at R385. You can contact Leah Hawker via email or visit her website.
About the author: Leah Hawker is a South African professional photographer. Her work covers birth, nudes, documentary features, art-based and editorial projects. Her most recent diptych titled “60 days (Pen & Hlomla)”, a reflection on motherhood and infant mortality, showed at the 2018 Sasol New Signatures Awards in the Pretoria Art Museum. The images exhibited were created during her Breastfeeding 101 project, which has taken three years.
Win a copy of Breastfeeding 101!Leah Hawker is giving away a copy of her gorgeous book, Breastfeeding 101, to one lucky reader!
To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know what you think of the book, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
(EDITED: This giveaway has been extended! Winner to be announced on 16 December.)
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with Leah Hawker. All images in this post was supplied by and is the property of Leah Hawker.
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Tommee Tippee’s Perfect Prep machine makes the perfect bottle! {Giveaway!}
It’s 3am and I hear Asher waking up for a feed. My heart is saying yes, but my body says no as I try to rise out of bed to see to him. I mean, I had literally just closed my eyes. Need sleep… can’t function. I nudge Hubstopher… it’s a silent “tag you’re it” and he grunts as he tries to escape my plea for help. I decide to grab baby, prepare his bottle and kinda just, you know, deposit him into his father’s arms, as one does.
The boy is a giant. And I’m not just saying so because it sounds like a fun thing to say. He is heavy. Juggling him, his blanket and bottle, while not stepping on toys, as I creep towards the kitchen, is probably what ninja training is made of. Once I reach the kitchen, I switch on the kettle, trying to shush him and prepare the bottle at the same time. It takes forever. The shushing is now accompanied with a little dance, as I try to keep him quiet. If the other
monsterskids wake up my dream of getting some rest tonight will be just that – a dream. The water is finally boiled and I now have to figure out how I’m going to get it into the bottle, and get the bottle made AND cooled, without upsetting my hungry baby even more. I silently mouth a prayer, while wondering how much Hollywood would pay me for my life story since it pretty much feels as if I am living in a sitcom. Baby starts crying again. This time, it’s loud enough to wake the others up. Jonah cries. Karis cries. I cry. The end.Okay, okay, my evenings aren’t thaaat dramatic. Well, not all the time atleast. And especially not since we got our hands on the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine. Now, I know what you’re thinking… it’s the same thing my mom said when she realised that we use a whole machine just to prepare our baby’s formula bottles: “Seriously Luchae, do you really need a machine for that?!”
And the answer is yes. The biggest, fattest yes!
The perfect bottle… every time!Because I combo feed my baby, I may not always have a readily prepared bottle on hand. I mean, sure you can prepare your formula bottles ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. But even then, it would probably need to be heated up, before baby would take it. Heating a formula bottle in the microwave is not advisable since it might heat unevenly, creating ‘hot spots’ that would burn baby’s mouth. So doing it the old school way is probably your safest bet. And yep. that takes time.
The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine prepares the perfect bottle in under two minutes! And friends, I’m talking perfect temperature, correct amount of water, in under two minutes AND you can operate it using only one hand… which, in my opinion, is the biggest score!
Your bottle will be the correct temperature for your baby pretty much immediately! No wait time. No screaming children. No headaches.The Perfect Prep has a filter system that removes impurities from the water and it’s initial “hot shot” kills any bacteria that may be in the formula.
And, my favorite thing about it is that it’s so easy to use, I even have my teenager prepping bottles! This machine is great for when you’re leaving baby with a babysitter or a helper and you’re concerned that they may not prepare their bottles correctly. There is no way they can get it wrong! Perfect Prep gives you the extra peace of mind that comes from knowing your baby’s bottle will be perfect every time.
Win a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine!We’re giving away a Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep dream machine to one lucky reader! To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know what you think of this amazing machine, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with Tommee Tippee.
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Combo-feeding helped me breastfeed longer
Few things in life are as deeply satisfying as seeing your baby’s content face after they’ve been fed and burped. I mean, that’s the ultimate goal, when they are that little… you know, to get them to a place of contentness (i.e. dry, fed and burped). We do this because, well, for starters it’s against the law to starve your child. But also, we do it because when your child is content and happy, you are at peace and can finally rest.
And so when I started on my breastfeeding journey with my newest munchky, Asher, I knew that something was up when I wasn’t feel this peace and rest even after he had happily dozed off post-burp. I wasn’t at peace because I was kinda bracing myself for his next feed. In fact, I secretly hoped and prayed that the kid would sleep for as long as possible, cringing every time I hear him cry because that would mean that I would need to feed him again. Yeah, no drama, it was that bad. I was ready to give up.
The truth is that the start of our breastfeeding journey was bumpy. I had just experienced my first C Section (unprepared) and when he first latched, I didn’t consider the fact that laying in a flat down position (because of C Section) would mean that he wasn’t latching properly. The intense nipple pain that followed for like, 5 weeks, is something that you would find in a Stephen King novel… horrific. I’m talking “Bride of Chucky” bad.
It was then, during those painful early days of breastfeeding that I introduced my baby to the bottle for the first time. I expressed milk using my beautiful Medela mini electric pump and the kid took to bottle like a flippen champ. (Thanks to the cleverness of the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottle, soother and nipple shields. No lie, it’s genius!)My plan was to toggle between bottle and breast until my nipples were somewhat healed and then go back to exclusively breastfeeding. But guys, something else happened… my two littlest kids (who were 4 and 2 years old at the time) started acting up. They were missing their mama and couldn’t understand why this new guy was hogging all the attention. It’s kinda hard to snuggle with your other kids when you permanently have a baby attached to your person. My kiddies needed me, but I didn’t want to stop breastfeeding Ash (who was cluster feeding as if he was permanently starving). All these barriers kinda stole away from the joy of breastfeeding. It suddenly felt like a burden.
It was ’round about this time that I had to make the decision… give up the boob OR attempt to combo feed. I chatted to a few moms and discovered that combo-feeding was a thing and people have been doing it, successfully, for many years (apparently I live under a rock). I mean, it wasn’t a foreign concept.
And so our new routine was birthed. He now bottle feeds once or twice a day and the rest of his feeds are still with me.
Friends, I know, breastfeeding is beautiful and magical and all of that but combo feeding totally freed me up! (Also, my nipples are rather ecstatic.)
I no longer feel “trapped” (for lack of a better word) when it’s feeding time but I have other things to take care of. My baby is fed and happy… which means I’m calmer and at peace, able to care for the needs of ALL my kids. Oh and double score: Ash still gets his breast milk straight from the, uh, cow, majority of the time.
Mood: Feeling like a Unicorn Mom.
I’ve learnt that breastfeeding is not an all or nothing situation… I mean, I can still breastfeed my child AND give him a bottle (and formula nogals) now and then. Obviously the more breast milk baby gets, the better. And there are great perks to exclusively breastfeeding… it’s probably the most magical experiences on earth (besides for actually giving birth to your baby, and like, going to Disney Land and stuff like that). You can read more about the magic of breast milk in a post I wrote here.
But, hey, sometimes a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do to stay mentally and physically healthy enough to love and care for her kids without putting her sanity on the back burner. No regrets here, whatsoever.Also, I’m quite chuffed with my kid for being clever enough to take both boob and bottle without, you know, throwing his toys out of the cot (see what I did there). I mean, who can blame him… he has a Unicorn Mom.
If you want to know more about how to successfully combo feed, you can read these:
Baby Center
