Put On Your Sunday Clothes Emile et Ida & Gap

Wanted: Potty Learning Tips

Sixtine has been showing potty learning readiness for a bit now.

 Throw your tips at me!

Thank you

Introducing French Blossom: Celebrating French Fashion For Children

Do you have children? Do you love fashion? Do you love Paris and anything French? Then you will love French Blossom!

French Blossom is an online boutique which showcases 100% French designers for children’s clothing, toys and decoration. Everything they have in store is pretty and elegant!

I tell my family and friends that I miss French fashion all the time. I have to stock up on French clothes, books, toys (anything really) every time I go home so imagine how happy I was when I heard about them! My children are going to look so stylish and it won’t cost me a flight to Paris and back! Yes, they ship worldwide!

Check out my wishlist and tell me what you love! I may as well have copy pasted the whole website!

Top 3 Clothing items
Sixtine would rock these! I especially love the Vichy scarf!

Top 3 Little Somethings
I think the puzzle would make a really nice gift! It contains three monuments of Paris including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Sacre Coeur.

Top 3 Nursery Decor
Ohh dear, I LOVE the mini-piano. WANT. IT. My daughters have to have it!

Top 3 Toys
Well-known Sophie and bilingual Flashcards!

Visit French Blossom if you would like to add some French flair to your life! Follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and stay tuned for a little surprise-surprise!

My Toddler Is A Fussy Eater

Is there anything more discouraging than your children refusing to eat what you lovingly prepared for them? It is beyond frustrating and it’s been happening a lot lately. I sometimes feel super lazy to cook but I do because it is part of the job! And I am almost proud of serving her a nice home cooked meal (nothing fancy but still, I am not much of a chef!) until she says “na”. I say “Try it. It is yummy look…Hummmmm. Sissi do it!”. And she says “na” again. And I get so upset! She often ends up eating just dessert. And it drives me nuts! I was starting to worry and posted a message on Baby Led Weaning’s Facebook Page and was almost immediately reassured reading this:

“- Dont allow the situation to be stressful.

- It still doesn’t matter if your older baby or toddler doesn’t eat at every meal as long as they are still receiving their usual milk when they want it still doesn’t matter if your older baby or toddler doesn’t eat at every meal as long as they are still receiving their usual milk when they want i

- Keep offering a variety of foods.

- As your child gets older, they can help in the preparation of the meal. Children who are involved often eat more adventurously than those who aren’t.”

It also seems to be quite common at this stage. So I guess I will keep doing what I am doing and wait until she eventually outgrows it!

(Not Quite) Irish Twins

Sisterly love.
Victoire (1 month), Sixtine (18 months)

An Empowering Feeling

In the first few months of her life, I wondered whether my baby loved me and if she knew I was her mother.

And then one day, as I was leaving the room, letting her in the care of my family, she cried because she wanted me. When I got back, a few minutes later, she crawled towards me as if her life depended on it, wrapped her arms around my ankle, and made sounds expressing she wanted me.  I melted and felt so empowered. It made me feel that I was doing something right.

Now that we can interact more, she doesn’t cease to amaze on the many ways she chooses to express her love to me.

It may sound silly to say that my heart is happy, that my baby loves me but eh!

Random Short Story: Strangers Touching Your Baby

People can’t keep their hands to themselves.

Sixtine and I were out grocery shopping this afternoon. After a little while, she got a little cranky from being tired and all that, and started crying. We were almost done and as I was looking away, I noticed the baby had stopped crying. A Chinese lady was entertaining her with a flower. There was no harm in doing so (it was nice of her and she probably meant well) but when I tried to make eye contact with her (basically, I just wanted to smile and go) she ignored me. I was going to leave but her cart was blocking my way. She was with her husband and seemed to have all kind of things to tell him in their language that I don’t understand while HOLDING MY baby’s foot. She never paid attention to me. And I pretty much had to force my way away.

Like. Seriously. HI ! DO YOU MIND?

People.

I should have said something but I was pretty astonished at her ignorance skills. She seemed amazed by Sixtine. Not sure why and what she was saying to her husband but anyways, didn’t like that one !

10 Things That Change When You Have A Baby

1. You want to better yourself for your baby.
2. You silly dance and sing publicly for your baby like no one is watching.
3. You become less self-conscious. I am talking bad hair day, shaving strike, nude face… You name it !
4. You talk about poop and puke like it is the most natural thing in the world. It is, really.
5. You see the world differently. You have new priorities.
6. Stronger bond with your husband/partner.
7. Get out of the door quickly. Well, actually, according to my husband, I never really did. But it’s gotten worse.
8. Being addressed as —’s mother. It is the best feeling in the world.
9. Guest contribution from my husband: You cherish your free time.
10. New found respect for your mother. Our relationship has grown a lot since I became a mother myself. I appreciate her more and all she did for me.

Let’s make this list a longer one, share !

Infant Stimulation

Sixtine has been very alert since birth. I have read some books and some online sites about stimulation in infancy and I have been doing some activities with her hoping to help her develop her full potential.

I started with black and white flash cards when she was about two months. It included different shapes (squares, triangles, circles,…), but also faces (smile, surprise,…) and animal shapes (cats, ducks…). I would flash them when she was happy, fed, and rested so that she was fully alert and interested.I also put some of the flashcards above her bassinet, and changing table and she has stared at them numerous times.

Now that she is a little older, I am going to introduce colors, numbers and pictures of everyday life objects/people with matching words. I am also working on a fabric/texture basket that she could play with.

I also sing in French and English to her. She seems to enjoy old classics French music and nursery rhymes better than anything and often sings back. Her favorite song seems to be “Petit escargot” which always get her smiling.

If you have read the post I wrote entitled “When baby says Mama” , you may know how important it is to talk to baby and listen to him/her above all. I enjoy talking to her and asking her questions and wait for an answer. She usually stares at my mouth very carefully, and moves her mouth at the same time, trying to reproduce the sound. She sometimes answers, sometimes not. But she knows I am interested in what she has to say.

I let her smell my food, perfume, and flowers and touch different temperature objects.She actually had lots of fun pulling the petals off the rose Papa had bought for her for Valentine’s day ! She loved it !

As for motor skills, she is a great little mover ! I put her on her stomach – which she doesn’t enjoy much – and she will put herself back on her back after a few grunts ! I let her grasp my fingers and pull her gently until she reaches a sitting position. She also rotates on her playmat by moving her legs like Elvis ! I have the feeling that she will be all over the place in a few months !

She also enjoys watching Sparkabilities 0 to 6 months.

What are some fun things you do with your infant? Anything you would like to recommend?

Random Short Story : The Real Life Doll

Sixtine made friends with a three-year old girl last evening. The little girl was shy at first but soon warmed up to Sissi. She was very helpful at changing the baby, passed me wipes and a diaper. When I pulled the baby’s pants down, revealing her legs, she shouted: ” She is a toy!” almost in shock. Then cautiously approached her, touched her legs at the tip of her finger and said: “Oh, no.” I thought it was hilarious.