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5 reasons why you need to stop asking me to have another baby
It’s no secret, we have more children than members of Destiny’s Child. I mean, if you told me a couple of years ago that my reign in the ‘Single Mommy Hood’ would be short-lived and replaced with a full on explosion of many children, I would’ve laughed at you. But years later, here I sit stretch mark bedecked and permanently exhausted due to the fact that I seem to enjoy buying nappies. (Kidding) And yet, people still ask me when I’m popping out the next little Williams. Bless their hearts. But seriously guys, you need to stop asking me to have another baby. Here’s why:
Mommy incubator
I am more than just my ovaries, you guys! I must admit, having Jo and Kari so close after each other has taken a serious toll on my body. Like, I have problems that were not problems before. But, health aside, I also miss the superficial things. You know, like being able to fit into basically every item of clothing that I owned pre-Karis. As much as I love being pregnant (and I don’t take this gift for granted at all), after popping out 3 kids, I definitely love being not pregnant a whole lot more.School fees
Consider paying school fees for one child. Now multiply that by 4. That is all.
(Hahahaha, joking, that isn’t all. We also have to buy food and clothes and pay for extra murals and medical aid and trips to the movies. Joy.)Quality time, shmality time
The last time I held my husbands hand was last week when he had to pull me up from the bathroom floor, because I slipped on someone’s something. It’s the toys, you guys! They’ve taken over my house! But besides for that, there is ALWAYS something that needs to be picked up, or cleaned, or sorted out. I miss the days where my Hubstopher and I could be romantic on the couch, without like, a Barbie doll staring at me, in judgement and disdain.Car seat ooh na na
So if you have many children and only one car, consider what that means if you’re wanting all of them to be buckled in safely and correctly at the same time. It has seriously become a huge problem for us. I know… buy a bigger car. Sure thing, Scrooge McDuck, let me quickly take a swim through my many fortunes and gather some money to do this. #realtalk #reallife #goawaySomebody call Dr Phil…
I don’t want to give my children issues, okay? We try to make all four of them feel loved and noticed and important. It’s no small feat, yo. I mean, Kari is a little jealous if Jo gets too much attention. And then Seth only sleeps over on weekends, so he should surely get as much attention as possible right? But then, Kyle is now in full blown teenager mode and we don’t want to make him feel left out. Its cray cray, ya’ll! Add one more to this mix? Uhhh…I do believe we have reached maximum capacity. I mean, we may have our hands full, but we’re managing somehow. (God. It has to be God.) And yes, I definitely do want to consider adopting at some point (in the far, far future), but as for right now? We’re good, thanks.
Header image taken by Cutepix Photography For more, check out their website.
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What my kids are playing with: BabyWombWorld’s Tooky Toy
I’ve been a parent for quite a long time (give or take 17 years, yo) so believe me when I say that it takes alot for a toy to impress me. I mean, sure it’s cute, but can it make me coffee? Kidding! I get it, the toys are meant to be for the kids. Well, that’s what BabyWombWorld founder, Heinrich, realized in 2016 after the birth of his first child. Toys are a great way to help your little one adapt to the big world. Kari and Jo were sent some of the stunning BabyWombWorld’s Tooky Toy to try out and let me tell you, as far as toys go, I would totally keep these for myself.
So what you need to know about Tooky Toy is that they are the most stunning wooden toys ever – timeless, creative and durable. Each piece and set is developed with your child in mind, to encourage imagination, incorporate real-life skills and build fine motor skills. They are eco-friendly manufactured and meet the most stringent international toy safety standards.
BabyWombWorld Tooky Toy My First Farm
Kari simply loved the BabyWombWorld wooden farm set and I don’t blame her… it’s super cool! Designed to foster creativity, the farm set features farm animals, vegetation and even little farmers, all beautifully painted. I think she loves the detachable bright red roof the most. The roof can easily be totally or partially removed so that she can get her little hands into the uber cool farm house. Made out of plywood, MDF and pinewood, I’m happy to report that the materials used to create this magical set is non-toxic. (Price: R695)
BabyWombWorld Tooky Toy Baby Walker
Jojo’s wooden walker from BabyWombWorld is gorgeous and practical! The toy encourages him to walk (he still hasn’t taken his first steps, you guys) and features a bunch of cool, colorful gadgets that also promotes learning. My favorite thing about wooden toys (I mean, besides for the fact that it looks great in pics) is that it is sturdy and won’t crack or break like plastic. The walker is made out of plywood and pine and comes with a bunch of musical and counting instruments, that are attached to the front and sides of the toy. (Price: R900)
I don’t know about you guys, but my children have a better social life than I do. I mean, kiddies birthday parties are pretty much a mini social club for little ones! I usually try to get those birthday gifts a month or two in advance and I do try my best to find gadgets and gizmos that are interesting (books and puzzles are my other faves to give). So I was especially thrilled to find that the Tooky Toy range is well priced, starting at R55. These would make for great birthday and Christmas gifts, right?!
Check out BabyWombWorld‘s selection of fine kiddies gifts and toys on their website, Facebook and Instagram pages.
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Jonah’s first birthday nautical cake smash photo shoot
Learning that I was pregnant with our Jo came as a huge surprise. Let’s just say he was the sweetest surprise, out of all our surprises (another post, for another day). So when it came to celebrating his first birthday, I knew without a doubt that I needed to do a cake smash session with Michelle of Cutepix. Do you guys remember that Michelle took Jo’s newborn pics and Kari’s carnival themed cake smash? Anyways, I chatted to Michelle about having a first birthday nautical cake smash session and was THRILLED to hear that she still sources and makes all the props for the shoot AND she makes the cake. Seriously, all we had to do was rock up and smile. The result? Priceless! Check it out:
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First birthday party alternative: The birthday play date
Now while I love my fat cheeked child very, very much, I did not have the energy to plan an elaborate first birthday party for him. I mean, as I’ve asked before: Is a first birthday party really necessary? Yes. The answer is yes. Any kind of party is necessary, in my books, because: PARTY. But while I do love me some cake, I did not want to have your typical party for Jo for a number of reasons. Enter: The birthday play date. Combining the festivities of a party with the chilledness of a play date was the exact way we wanted to celebrate Jo’s first birthday. Here’s how it all went down:
The invite
I messaged a few close mommy friends (whose kiddies are 1 year old and under) and asked the pair to join Jo and I for his birthday play date. It honestly didn’t make sense to invite older kids since I wanted Jo to have fun with little ones his age. A 3-year old and a 12-month old plays differently, if you know what I mean. Anyways, I told the moms to expect a morning of chilling out and having fun with their little ones. Aint nobody got time for make up and heels.
The decor
What decor? Hahaha. Kidding. Remember I said that Jo went for a first birthday cake smash? Well, we converted a room in our home into a play room and used the cake smash pics to decorate it. We filled the room with toys and gadgets that would be suitable for kids his age. You’ll spot the Baby Womb World baby crawler in one of these pics (it’s gorgeous, I’m sharing more about it next week!) and the An African Salad Busy Box – that one was a huge hit. Although there were couches for the moms, I wasn’t too perturbed about the adult seating area because I figured we won’t be doing much polite-sitting with a bunch of 12 month olds crawling and todding around.
The entertainment
I was also so blessed to receive some amazing kiddies gifts from Christian Art Media, which I could pass on to the mommy’s. These include chalk board Bibles and nifty colour-in cards. The moms pretty much entertained each other. We shared birth stories, talked about poo nappies and compared teething woes. It was the best time! We also discussed the amazing 936 Pennies book by Eryn Lynum. In this book, Eryn talks about intentional parenting and how to prioritise your time, in order to maximise the 936 weeks you have with your kid (from birth to 18 years old)! I’m going to tell you more about this in June and do a giveaway. It really is a remarkable book!
While I’m on the topic of entertainment, one of my play date party ideas was to get the mommy’s to interact with their little ones. I must admit, I had planned a few mommy/baby games and activities, but we just never got around to it. Honestly, I think we all really needed some adult time and to feel as if we’re all completely sane. I mean, you can’t understand how much weight a “me too!” holds, when you feel like you’re losing your mind.
The food
I ordered a yummo platter for the moms, some coffee and juice (did I say coffee? because COFFEE) and one of my besties, Bianca, made delicious cup cakes. For the kiddies, I had some fruit out. I mean, since they are still so little, loading them with refined sugars is probably not a good idea. I also made small party packs with yoghurt, teething biscuits, a marshmellow fish (okay just one sweetie, shame) and soft chippies.
The end result
Priceless! The amount of car seat snoozing selfies I received, from moms who were so thankful to get a break, indicated just how much of a good time the little ones had. Jo also had so much fun and I was glad that we got to celebrate his first birthday exactly how we needed to. -
Is having a first birthday party necessary?
The other day I had a brain fart moment, struggling to remember what we did to celebrate Kyle’s first birthday. Keeping in mind, the kid is a million years old already and his first birthday probably happened when I was 12 (I was a teen mom, remember) and reckless and not Martha Stewart enough to find serviettes that matched cleverly picked out balloons. Yep, feelings of “bad mom” befell me faster than the speed of light and I had to calm myself down, because, let’s be honest, the kid probably doesn’t even remember his first birthday. (I asked, so I’m sure) But wait, hey, this means that none of my kids remember their first birthdays. Right? And if they don’t remember, then why the heck am I trying to find serviettes that matches cleverly picked out balloons for Jo’s first birthday?! I mean, does any of that even matter? Is having a first birthday party necessary?
If you’re able to spend those extra ronds on an elaborate first birthday party – that’s amazing! Celebrate your baby, girlfriend! You’ve managed to parent the kid for a whole year without losing your sanity. It’s a milestone worthy of celebration.
BUT since I have a big family and many a birthday to consider, I’ve decided to not do a big first birthday party for Jo this year. Honestly, the boy is much more concerned with how he can get his own toes into his mouth. Needless to say, my matching serviettes and cleverly picked out balloons will not impress him one bit.
Instead, I’ve opted for a cake smash shoot with Cutepix (Michelle did Kari’s cake smash shoot as well). I love this concept because it documents all the elements of a birthday celebration – the cake, the decor etc – and puts it altogether in one beautiful taken photo shoot, giving us those important first birthday memories (and baby pics to share at his 21st).
But, of course, a cake smash doesn’t include people and fun! So my spreadsheet brain and I decided to have a birthday PLAY DATE! What is a birthday play date and how on earth does it differ to a birthday party or a normal play date, I hear you ask. Good questions, Margaret, good questions. Well…
1. A birthday play date’s emphasis is on the word PLAY. I wanted to incorporate a lot of fun and toys and interaction with other kids HIS age. So yes, that meant that the invite list comprised of “one and unders”… no older kids. And yes, that also meant ALOT of playing because it’s his day and I want him to have fun (and possibly conk out afterwards, hello Greys Anatomy my old friend, how I’ve missed you)
2. The birthday play date would have NO: matching anything, birthday cake, elaborate decorations. Those things don’t matter… well, atleast not to my Jojo. And as for the pics… the cake smash took care of that, remember?
3. The birthday play date’s emphasis was on: Interaction. The mommy’s were encouraged to hang out and chat (I even told them to come wearing flip flops and yoga pants if they wanted) and the kiddies were encouraged to have fun. Instead of focusing on “what must happen next” ala birthday party vibes.
4. The birthday play date allowed me to celebrate my baby boy but it was minus the formalities, minus the stress and minus the copious amounts of spending money I dont have on stuff I don’t need… stuff that is probably not important to my 12 month old. Stuff like matching serviettes and cleverly picked out balloons.The result? Probably the best birthday celebration we’ve had! I’ll share pics and more on what went down tomorrow. But I’d love to hear your opinion: Do you prefer a big birthday bash for your one year old? Or something more low key? How much money would you spend on a first birthday party?
Header image taken by Cutepix. Will share more about the cake smash pics on Friday!
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What my kids are playing with: Fisher Price
When it comes to keeping our smallest (and arguably, our cutest) child busy, we’re willing to pull out all the stops. I mean, the kid is inquisitive for days! He usually guns for TV remote controls or a cellphone when we’re not looking. Thankfully, Fisher Price has sent him two of their latest gadgets to try out (big brother Kyle says thank you for that… the remote is no longer being held hostage) and it was so cute to see baby Jo inspect each toy in true Sherlock Holmes style.
Fisher-Price baby’s first activity book
With big sister constantly pretend-reading her own story books, baby Jo was pretty pleased with himself when he got to turn the pages of his own book. The Fisher-Price baby’s first activity book features a variety of different colorful textured fabrics and elements, to stimulate his sensory, cognitive and motor skills. It has a squeaker, crinkly page, peek-a-boo, plastic rings, a rubber teether attached and Jo’s fave – a round mirror. This boy is too clever! He is also a biter. Seriously though, and he only bites me! And now, he also bites his activity book. Winning at life.
Fisher-Price Chime Bell Rattle
Another fave is this Fisher-Price chime bell rattle, that features colorful textured fabrics and elements to stimulate his senses. Well, for starters, it looks pretty cool! I mean, I would totally brag on the play ground if I had this baby. Also, I love the design and that the plastic rings encourages him to work on those motor skills. I’m totally sold on the fact that it can attach to his stroller or baby carrier. I’m tired of looking for toys on the floor of our car you guys. The fact that it’s a rattle impresses him so much, that he bashes it against objects, just to hear it make a noise. Yes, sometimes the object is me. Again, winning at life.
Jokes aside, when it comes to choosing toys for my little one, I always check for SAFETY first! And, let’s be honest guys, it’s worth it to spend that extra few rands for the guarantee that your kid will be safe. Play is the way children learn best. Hands-on play is what Fisher-Price is best known for. With your kid’s development in mind, they develop and design baby gear and toys that will help you give your child the best possible start.You can check out the latest in toys and baby gear on the Fisher Price South Africa website.
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How serious is nappy rash?
We all know that looking after your baby’s skin is important. I mean, you don’t need a rocket scientist to tell you that the skin in the nappy area is the most vulnerable. Sadly, a nappy rash gone out of control can turn deadly, due to hostile bacteria that can affect baby’s health. Scary, right? I mean, it’s just a nappy rash! But pioneer, Doctor Carol Hlela, who is a pediatric dermatologist and a leader in providing quality skin care, for babies in South Africa, shared some interesting tips and information at the JOHNSON’S® Baby Health wet wipes masterclass last week. JOHNSON’S Baby invited myself and a few others to Johannesburg to learn more about baby skin health and I need to let you guys in on it!
The masterclass was hosted by stunning Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, who facilitated a great discussion regarding baby skin health, alongside the very impressive Professor Carol Hlela and JOHNSON’S® Baby Portfolio Manager, Jacquelyn Paterson.
Dr Hlela shared testimony of babies who have suffered trauma and have lost their lives due to poorly managed skin health. In all honesty, a story like this may not happen to a baby in your circle or my circle, but the truth is, it IS happening! The poor socio-economic conditions, in certain parts of South Africa, make it more difficult for mother’s to properly look after their baby’s skin. And a seemingly annoying nappy rash can get out of control, letting in bacteria that can impact negatively on the child’s health.Why is healthy skin important?
Well Dr Hlela says that the skin serves as a protective barrier that prevents infections, water loss and the penetration of irritants and allergens. Besides for baby skin being up to 3 times thinner than an adult’s, it also loses moisture 5 times faster. The first few month’s of a baby’s life is crucial – so you want to make sure that they are protected from germs and bacteria. Cracked skin allows germs to pass through more easily.How can I keep baby’s nappy area healthy?
Dr Hlela introduced us to the ABCDE steps to protecting the delicate skin barrier of a baby:A – Air: Exposing the area to fresh air frequently and for as long as possible
B – Barrier: Using a barrier cream that provides lipid film to protect against irritants such as urine and stool
C – Cleansing: Making sure to cleanse the area with a baby wipe at each nappy change
D – Diaper: Using super absorbent diapers, changing baby frequently
E – Educate: Educating other moms and care givers to follow the proper nappy hygiene skin care practices
Okay, so what’s the big deal about wet wipes?
You guys, have you ever visited the baby aisle and felt overwhelmed at the vast array of wet wipes available? How do you even know which one to choose?! Well here are a bunch of factors to consider when choosing baby wipes and skin care products:- Make sure the type of fabric used for the wipes is 100% cotton. This will ensure that it is soft for the skin and reduces friction.
- Check if it has gentle emollients to protect skin from damage caused by frequent cleansing.
- Even water has a higher pH level than that of baby skin, sometimes causing dryness. Look for a wipe that is as close as possible to baby’s natural pH level which is around 5.5.
- Mildly fragranced wipes are okay, fragrance-free is better. Not all fragrance is skin appropriate.
- Educate yourself! Read the ingredients! Avoid strong chemicals such as alcohol, soap, triclosan and even essential oils (which can be an irritant),
Why JOHNSON’S®?
I love that JOHNSON’S®Baby takes baby’s skin seriously. All the JOHNSON’S®Baby products are hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested and paraben-free. They’ve even launched a JOHNSON’S®Baby Healthy Skin Project, in partnership with Unjani Clinics, in a bid to provide thousands of mothers and babies in impoverished areas with access to treatment.Unjani is a sustainable initiative that aims to strengthen health systems in low-income communities throughout South Africa. Dr Carol Hlela helps to educate Health Care Professionals in these communities about baby and skin health. Because of this amazing initiative, more mother’s are now made aware of ways to protect and care for their baby’s skin and JOHNSON’S® Baby even gifts them with product to help them do so.
Dr Hlela agrees that the JOHNSON’S® Two-Step Routine, to keep the skin barrier in the nappy area healthy, is the most effective way to keep your baby’s skin happy. The routine consists of:- Cleansing at nappy change time, using the JOHNSON’S® Baby Wipes. These wipes are made with 100% cotton and 97% pure water and is free of alcohol, soap and essential oils.
- Protecting baby’s skin in the nappy area using an emollient such as the JOHNSON’S® Baby Jelly which spreads easily and contains nourishing oils to soften the skin. Dr Hlela says that because baby has no hair follicles, the petroleum jelly does not “smother” the skin, but rather acts as a barrier.
You guys, have you heard about JOHNSON’S® Baby’s baby barrier cream? The AVEENO® Baby Daily Care Baby Barrier Cream is unscented and suitable for newborns. It’s formulated with colloidal oatmeal to actively soothe and reduce the redness of dry, delicate baby skin.
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What my kids are playing with: Mega Bloks Treehouse Adventures
When it comes to raising actual human beings, there’s so much that one has to consider. I sometimes feel as if I would make a pretty good policeman, yo! I mean, I basically police what they eat, who they play with and what they watch on TV. I investigate every bump and scratch on their bodies. I even check and double check to make sure the toys they are playing with are kid friendly and safe. I take their “toy-playing” very seriously, you guys! Toys, like the Mega Bloks Treehouse Adventures, that provide an educational benefit is a must!
A clever parent (me.. I’m talking about me…) will sneakily use playtime as opportunity for their child to learn. The best type of toys are the ones that engage senses, encourage interaction and spark imagination. The Mega Bloks Treehouse Adventures from Fisher Price helps with this!
This 120-piece play set includes colorful building blocks and special parts such as a moving swing and a window that really opens. The easy-to-build tree house and cottage, with woodland decoration, makes for a complex construction site for little minds. I love watching the wheels in Kari’s head turn as she puts it together.
Her favorite part is when she gets to sit the 2 Block Buddy’s on top of her creation. I’ve probably seen 50 variations of her tree house design and yes, that means 50 over emphasized “wows” as I pretend to be utterly amazed at her sheer brilliance.
The Mega Bloks Treehouse Adventures is ideal for kiddies aged 1 to 5, but clearly our little boetie also wanted in on the action. I totally appreciate that the pieces are not hazardous or a choking risk. Do your kids enjoy playing with blocks as much as mine do?
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Bath time with Bubiroo
Bath time around our parts are quite a mission. I mean, for starters, there are now two squirmy little bodies to clean and the two-year age gap means nothing because the littlest one is just as active as the bigger one is. They just don’t sit still! We still have fun, none the less. Kari loves introducing Jo to our “lotions and potions” regime. She got really into it, the other day, when I added Bubiroo to our regular pamper session.You guys, Bubiroo has really impressed me! I mean, besides for the fact that owner, Dorae, is an actual qualified Naturopath and Homeopath (so she knows what she’s doing, yo). The Bubiroo product is 100% natural, handmade with love, and free of all the junk you would find in commercial baby products. That’s right, it’s preservative free and does not contain chemicals, artificial fragrances or coloring, mineral oils, parabens, petroleum sulfates or nut oil. And guys, I know you usually expect to spend a lot on all natural products but these are really well priced!
The baby wash and shampoo contains marula, mandarin and may chang and smells really clean. (I know, I’m so descriptive). What I mean is that most baby washes has a sweet scent, but I liked that the Bubiroo wash is almost fragrance free. It also doesn’t foam like normal washes because it does not contain sodium laureth sulfate. 100% goodness! I haven’t tried it out on Kari’s mop of curls, but it did the job on Jo’s hair. His hair did not feel coarse or sticky afterwards (as I expected it to).
The baby wax is the best thing in the world! It contains a whole bunch of amazingness such as coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, calendula oil, ylang ylang, marula seed oil (and the beat goes on). The consistency is a bit hard to the touch (because of the coconut oil), so you would need to warm it up by rubbing some between your hands, before applying. It’s such a great product for baby massages and rubs. I am a huge fan! Kari enjoys digging into it and rubbing the wax between her little hands. It’s actually a double score for me, because I don’t have to worry about copious amounts of lotion being slathered all over my bedding!
The baby bum balm is probably one of my favorite Bubiroo products. Jonah has fortunately been nappy rash free so I’ve never felt the need to cover his little bottom with thick, overly medicated bum creams. I mean, I want his skin to breath, while still being protected. This is the perfect product for that. And again, because it contains coconut oil you need to warm it up first before application, but once applied it goes on like a thin layer of ointment and smells great!Talking about ointment, Kari refers to the Bubiroo products as her “ointment” because she loves the smell and she says it makes her “better”. And how right she is! If you’d like to get your hands on some Bubiroo products check out the Facebook page for more information or drop them an email. Moms, if your kids have overly sensitive skin, chat with Dorae. She’ll put together a product tailor made just for you and your kid!
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Little Lumps baby dungarees made me do it
Nothing makes me go all mushy more than a cute baby in a little dungaree set. I mean, can you even wrap your brain around the sheer adorableness of chubby thighs in tiny shorts? Exactly. I didn’t think so. Hold that thought ladies, and guard your ovaries, as I gift you with pictures of my smallest child wearing Little Lumps baby dungarees:
