Urban Mommies your online resource for new and expecting parents

Cohen's first kiss

2008-07-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

happened today. We had our first playdate in our new house with his Canadian friends Isabel and Alexander. Isabel is 19 months old so a bit of a older lady for Cohen, Alexander is almost 4.
They came over for a morning play and lunch and Cohen and Isabel really are taking to each other, it super cute. They were hugging and then Cohen was kissing Isabel's head, she soon puckered up and planted on back on Cohen.
It was so nice to have kids in our house and see Cohen having so much fun. The malls are good but it gets a little tiring after a while. I'd much prefer to go to someone's house or have them come here for a playdate a couple times a week. It's good for Cohen to learn to share his own toys with his friends.

We have officially finished purchasing all of the big items required to survive and set up shop. I had to break down and buy a moderately crappy espresso machine or else I was going to lose my mind. I had to make up a reason every morning to leave the house to get a coffee but now i can make a latte in my house!! If you know me well, then you know for me this is pretty much as important as having a bed.

We've booked our flights back to Canada which is great. I won't lie, i'm not looking forward to the flights. At least on the way there it will be easier because Phil will be with me and we are coming to see family and friends but on the way home, it's me flying solo with Cohen for 13 1/2 hours non-stop.
Phil has 2 weeks but really it's more like 11 days since there is so much flying time.
We will do 4 of those days in Burlington and 7 of them in Vancouver/Okanagan/Whistler/Pemberton, etc. Phil leaves on the 8th and i will stay for another month till the 13th.
I'm get to do a second stop in Burlington for one last visit with Phil's family and then we will be back to Abu Dhabi for the Fall.

Well, i'm pooped so i'm gonna go.

kisses,
A
xo

There is a dying pigeon.....

2008-07-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

outside on our deck. Cohen is at the window knocking on the door to the pigeon. Please, please fly away and die somewhere else. He is very mangy and gross and I don't want to look but i can't seem to stop looking.
The upside to all of this is that i'm back online and typing this blog in my apartment.
Yes we are moved in. We have no furniture, well we have a dining room table, 2 rugs, Cohen's playpen and our sofabed but that's it.
We sit on the floor and eat and feed Cohen in his stroller, he doesn't seem to mind.
The place is great, really big so it's taking some time getting used to finding Cohen when it goes silent. We have 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a maids room, kitchen and living /dining room area.
We have our bedframe and dining room chairs coming tomorrow but our shipment of stuff has still not arrived. We are getting very antsy for all of our stuff so hopefully it comes soon.
Only 6 more sleeps till we leave for France!! I'm so excited about this trip, i've always wanted to go to the South of France. We are spending 3 nights in Nice and then 5 nights in Antibes and we are staying in Katherine's boyfriend's flat in Antibes.
He rents it out in the summer while he is off on the boats working so Phil, Cohen and I are going to take it and use it as our base to check out the sites.
I'm hoping to go into Cannes for a day, head to Monacco, i bet the drive alone is worth it.
If possible we will go to some vineyards and bring back delicious french wine!
I think the plan is to come back here for a week, let Phil get some work done and get ready for his trip. I'll hopefully be able to finish getting us organized here but that all depends on the boat and our stuff arriving.
There is still a lot of stuff to buy but i want to do it slowly to make sure it all works together.
The pigeon is still sitting there in case you are interested, i just looked.
We have been going to the Club alot lately. We got a temporary membership and have applied for a full one. There is quite the waiting list but maybe just maybe we will be able to slip in. :)
There is so much for kids to do at this place compared to some of the other ones. My favorite would be the kids dining room, the menu, cutlery, and all the furniture is for kids. We can go and eat there and not worry if Cohen fusses or makes a big mess.
It is nice to have a place to call home and start to feel like we are settling into the community.
Well i gotta run and make dinner for P and me.
love,
A
xo

We are so close............

2008-06-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

We have the keys, i repeat we have the keys!!! It looks like we could be in our apartment in the next few days.
Our electricity and water have been turned on and the painters are at our apartment painting right now!!
The cleaners are set to show up around 4pm today and start cleaning. They will need to come tomorrow as well but after that we should be set to move in.
Our place is getting painted white, the property co. won't paint any colours so we need to outsource and it's been a difficult finding a co. or someone who is "professional" and will do a decent job so it's white for now and hopefully colour later.
Next up is our shipment which is set to arrive June 30th, I thought it was sooner but after re-checking my emails the ETA is June 30th which is tomorrow.
If it could be here by the 4th, that would be fantastic but we'll just have to wait and see.
There is still a lot to buy but we need to do it slowly as we haven't yet seen what everything looks like in our place to date.
I think we will just be moved in by the time we take off for France.
The dates are not set yet but I think we are going on the 13th for a week. I'm very excited as I have always wanted to go to the South of France.
A week will be just enough time to see a few towns and give me an idea of whether I could spend a month there or not.
The plan in my head is to spend a month or so there next August so that we get out of the Abu Dhabi heat and away from Ramadan for a bit. Phil can take a few weeks and relax there with us and then we can entertain any visitors that want to visit France.
Anyway that is far far away so who knows.
Well if you don't here from us via internet over the next few days that is because we are moving and trying to get our new internet services set up.
Love and kisses to you all!

A,P&C
xoxoxo

What is going on here?

2008-06-21T02:31:00.000-07:00

okay so i had the throat thing then the stomach thing but now the eye thing? enough is enough abu dhabi!! I have some eye issue right now, my eyes keep watering over and over and over again with sunglasses on or off, in the sun or even out of the sun. My eyes are aching, seriously what the hell?
We've had a very busy weekend and spent lots of money which is always fun! We headed to Dubai yesterday to visit the worlds largest IKEA and oh my god, it is huge!!! We needed a sofa bed for our guests who visit and the one we liked was at IKEA but not in stock here in Abu Dhabi so we decided to go and order it from Dubai.
What an interesting drive. The highway is fantastic and very large but once you get into the city it becomes incredibly complicated fast. It was so hazy out that we really couldn't see anything so we will go back on a clear day and do some site seeing.
We could see the tallest building in the distance but it looked like a shadow or something with all the haze.
I did see camels on the side of the road which was really cool. There are all these little towns (some not very nice and some nice) along the way to Dubai. The building is out of the world, there seems to be a sign for a new development every 3 minutes and there are projects on the go everywhere you turn.
I can't wait to go Jumeriah Island (palm tree island) and check it out. It looks very fabulous. You can buy a house there for a few million USD. Maybe later. :)
I saw the ski hill, it looks crazy.
Dubai will take us quite a few trips to see it all. Cohen did a great job yesterday with all the driving, he's such an amazing kid. We took him to the Toys R Us there, it was so big with all sorts of things to look at and do. It was no FAO Swartz mind you but it was pretty cool.
The only bummer is the lack of Fisher Price here. All the toys I really wanted to get for Cohen they don't have here. They do have a chain called ELC (Early Learning Center) and the stuff they have is really neat so I won't complain.
Back to the shopping...we managed to find a bedframe, chairs for the dining room (although we have no table yet, opposite of last time!) dressers for both us and Cohen, a sofabed, duvets, glasses, some dishes, etc.
There are a lot of neat furniture stores here so we've been checking them all out and all of a sudden the whole town seems to have gone on sale so it's working out in our favour.
My dad has his flight sorted out so i'm really excited about the fact that he will be here this fall.
I had a playdate at a ladies house with her son and it was so nice to be in a real apartment and not a play area. It's nice to have playdates where it's not mad chaos.
Hopefully this time next week we will be in our apartment. It will be the electricity and water hookups that we will have to wait on.
Who knows how long internet will take, hopefully not too long.
Well kisses and love to you,
Arndrea
xoxoxo

Things are on the up!

2008-06-19T03:10:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday today which in the UAE is Friday so of course I'm very happy about this. Phil has the next 2 days off and I'm very excited to spend the time with him.
Things have been going really well for us. We have met a few more people and are starting to make some more playdates. Phil and I haven't gone out on our own yet and I imagine we probably won't until we are in our apartment and find some childcare that we are both comfortable with.
I have managed to go to yoga 2x in the evening and Phil went and watched a hockey game last night between Kuwait and the UAE.

Our apartment is slowly happening. Everything is very different over here and it all takes FOREVER!! We (cross your fingers) will get the keys today but that doesn't mean a lot. All it means is we have somewhere to store stuff.
We are trying to find painters and negotiate timing. Electricity and hot water could be another week or so. I won't go into how it all works but i'll just say we've decided to laugh about it at this point instead of get mad, i think it's better for our health to not get so frustrated.
So we should by next weekend be in our place but that is not even definite. The water could take longer and you can't really live somewhere without water.
So....like i said it's slowly happening.

I was able to find a great school for Cohen for September and have enrolled him 2 mornings a week. I am hoping for a 3rd morning and have put my name down in case something comes up.
It's a British nursery school and considered one of the 2 best in the area so we are really lucky that we got in. It was by luck that we got in. I called just as a woman had called to cancel her two days for Cohen's age group. So by default they gave it to me even though there is a waiting list. Maybe it's my charming ways, most likely it's because Cohen is so darn cute and friendly.

It looks like July will be a slow month here as a lot of expats leave with their kids in July and August and return in September.
I met a new Canadian mom the other day who seemed really nice. I'll give her a call later this weekend and try and set up a playdate for next week.

We should have our travel plans sorted out in the next few weeks which i'm excited about. it will be great to have Phil's help with Cohen one way and hopefully things will go smoother for me when i come back.

The weather here has gone back up to really hot and it's very cloudy from the dust.
I took Cohen to my favorite place yesterday - The Hiltonia, and we relaxed in the kiddie pool for over an hour. He was wrinkly like a raisin but so happy to be in the water. Hopefully we get a membership there soon so that we can enjoy the pool for July.
That's it for now for me.
I hope everyone is great and happy and healthy.
missing you all,
A,P&C
xoxoxo

Still no change

2008-06-16T04:29:00.000-07:00

Well I'm still sitting here in the hotel typing this entry so as you can imagine I'm not so impressed. We still have very little idea as to when we get to move in. The processes here are extremely frustrating and from what everyone says that is lesson number 1 when coming here, "Learning to deal with daily frustrations".
I am trying my hardest not to get too frustrated but it's tough living in a hotel with a small child. I don't know how many more cheese quesadillas or grilled cheese sandwiches he will eat!
Cohen is such a joy in our lives, he is so funny and makes me laugh daily. He has this fantastic language that he uses all day long to converse with me and his toys. I can't imagine being here without him, he definitely makes this transition easier for me.
We went to a big playgroup today which was interesting. I've never really done the playgroup thing as we were always with friends and their children so this was new for me.
Cohen had a good time but it was difficult for me to meet anyone new as I didn't want to take my eyes off of him since there were so many kids and lots of toys and children that were bigger than him.
I did meet a lady who had a son the same age as Cohen and as it turns out she was friends with the other lady that I had met the week before.
I did go to yoga last night which was fantastic. It was really nice to do something very familiar to me that makes me feel so good.
The class was almost 2 hours and we left super sweaty and relaxed. I'm looking forward to going back.
Well Cohen is looking for a partner to play with so I had better go.
I hope you all are well.
lots of love,
A,P&C
xoxoxo

What a weird weekend

2008-06-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

It was a strange one. Phil and I were both feeling terrible on Friday but we needed to get out the hotel with Cohen so off we went to the ACE Hardware to look for paint and then to Toys R Us for one of those sun blocker things you put on the windows. I feel like Cohen was baking in the back so now it's better.
We decided to brave it to the Marina Mall after to go to Ikea and see what kind of sofa beds they have. We need it for when we move into our place as our mattress and stuff doesn't get here till the end of the month, plus we need something comfortable for when our guests come and visit. You are coming right???!!!
Well Ikea in typical fashion was mayhem but couple that with the fact that we are at the second largest mall in the world and let me just say it was ridiculous. Phil drove round and round forever to find a parking spot and the spot we ended up taking we should have taken a picture of. In Canada it would have been a parking ticket and a tow before you could even turn around, but over here well...you can pretty much park wherever you please which adds to the madness of this town!
Today I was feeling better but Phil still can't shake it. We decided to head out to Raja Gardens, a new development about 20 mins outside of the city. They have brand new places for rent so I was curious to what they are all about. It's a brand new development so there is nothing there but in no time it will be a huge built up area and those places will not be affordable.
So we thought we would check it out and go and see the Grand Mosque. Well wouldn't you know it the Raja Gardens sales offices are closed on the weekends, makes great sense right? It's so dumb, nothing here makes sense. Well since we were out that way we headed to the mosque which was amazing. It was spectacular. We took lots of great pictures and Cohen had a blast. He ran and ran and ran around the beautiful flooring.
He could run forever and still go. It truly is a sight.
I managed to make dinner here tonight - well pasta and sauce and baked chicken nuggets and veggies. Not really an Arndrea dinner but better than going out.
Gotta go and chill with my love. He's off to work tomorrow so I got get all my hugs in now!

I'm up and now Phil's down

2008-06-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

Well i'm feeling so much better thank goodness but now it seems Phil has come down with the flu or something like it. Come on!! Honestly we are dropping like flies over here.
Cohen thank goodness seems to be okay through all of this.
Poor Phil is on a boat tour, what could be worse when you feel like barfing? I can't think of anything. Tonight will be a soup night for all.
We've been meeting lots of new people over the last few days.
I had lunch with two ladies (one who is expecting)and that was nice. They gave me lots of helpful tips and suggestions.
Today i met up with a mom that i had met when we first arrived. She showed me this really lovely bookstore for children and a great area to sit and have coffee while the kids run around.
The weekend is here tomorrow (Happy Birthday Joanne!!) so i imagine we will be going to get paint, a sofa/bed for Phil and I to sleep on and some dishes. We will start slowly as there is a lot to buy and so many furniture and home decor stores.
It was 2 weeks ago today that I left Vancouver. It feels like a lot longer but i got to see and speak to my parents today which was so great.
For all the webcams out there, just let us know and we will set up a time to talk.
It was really great for Cohen, he got so excited to see his Nana and Grandpa and immediately started yelling and shaking his finger. (something he and my mom do)
We started Kindermusik classes, they are okay it's no Music Together that's for sure, but it will have to do.
I think i could teach some classes here, maybe ballet for the kiddies...who knows.
love to you all,
A,P&C xoxoxox

Sick and wishing for BC medical....

2008-06-10T02:31:00.000-07:00

Well it's day who knows and I ended up back at another medical clinic. The first doctor that I saw at the hospital prescribed me a whole bunch of medicine and after 3 days I was still feeling really crappy. Phil convinced me to go to another clinic and see what they had to say.
This doctor gave me new different medicine but said that I have a throat infection. So I'm really hoping that this new medicine is going to work and that soon I will be able to swallow and turn my neck.
The hospital and clinic that I visited were both really clean and fairly new. They were in better shape than some of the hospitals in Vancouver. It's really amazing how you show up and within 5 minutes you are seeing the doctor. There is no waiting. I think the most frustrating part is the language barrier that can occur. English is widely spoken here but how well a person actually understands the language and speaks it is an entirely different situation.
On to other news....
We got the apartment which is a HUGE relief for us! We need to get cleaners in to give it a good clean, painters to repaint the apartment and then little fixes here and there.
It's not perfect but it should be be good for the next year.
It has 3 decent sized bedrooms so that means a spare room for any guests!!! There is also a maids room which refers to a nanny room but in good conscious I could never allow someone to sleep in a room that small and cramped. I think we will end up using that room as storage for our bikes and stuff.
The pro's are it is large, has 2 bathrooms so Cohen will have his own for all his bath toys. We are right downtown and only a 10 minute walk at most to the water. There is a door that closes the main living area off from the kitchen which is a bonus to keep the busy baby out.
The con's are it doesn't have a parking spot so finding parking everyday will be a pain.
Once the weather turns, we will drive less and walk more so it shouldn't be too bad.
Supposedly there are ants in the kitchen, I didn't see them but we will have to investigate and spray before we get in there.
And lastly the hot water tanks are above the showers so you need to make sure you have them turned off before taking a shower.
If all goes well we should be able to move in by Saturday or Sunday. That might be a little optimistic but I'm dying to get out of this hotel. If you could only see the huge mound of laundry that we are accumulating!! I took some to the cleaners to be laundered but it's so expensive that I'm trying to hold out.
The man who lives in the apartment is out on the 12th, so if we can get cleaners in on the 13th and painters on the 14th, maybe we could be in by the 15th or 16th.
I think it's actually good that we will be in before our stuff arrives so that I can organize what we do have and start buying the things we need.
First up would be some sort of bed for Phil and I to sleep on. We are thinking of getting a couch/bed from Ikea and using it for the 2 weeks and then putting it in the guest room which we will probably use as Cohen's playroom as well.
Well I should try and nap while Cohen is napping, there hasn't been a lot of sleep for me lately.
Love and kisses,
A,P&C

Sick already?

2008-06-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well for those of you who know me well, it should come as no surprise to you that I am sick!
I'm pretty sure I caught it from my new friend who was getting over it and in true Arndrea fashion, I like to take other people's sicknesses. I got nice and sick just in time for the weekend and here I am so happy that I have my fantastic husband to help take care of our very busy toddler.
My glands were so swollen yesterday and I was having trouble even turning my neck, I won't go on and on about how bad I feel but I will say A/C certainly doesn't help.
I'm either freezing cold or boiling hot, the thermostat here is jumping all around due to my internal temperature.
Kristin please please force me to go and see the BioFeedback lady, I have a feeling she will help me stop being so accessible to other people's illnesses.
We did manage to get out today and do a lot of driving around. Phil showed me where the music classes are, where the Abu Dhabi mom's club is, where the Marks and Spencers is.
It's really interesting how many big and little malls there are here. Each one seems to have no fewer than 2 kids play areas complete with bouncy castles, train rides, sandboxes, you name it.
The nail bars here look very fun, I can't wait to do a mani/pedi. They are really cheap and are done behind closed frosted glass doors for "Ladies Only"
Phil tried to walk in with Cohen today while I was inquiring the nail place went all crazy, it was pretty funny.
Cohen had his first cheeseburger today and was a big fan. He ate a large chunk of Phil's burger, it was cute stuff.
Well I'm off to help Phil bath and get Cohen ready for bed.
We love and miss you all!!
-A,P&C
xoxox

We are back on track!!!

2008-06-06T02:46:00.000-07:00

It took 6 nights from when we landed in Abu Dhabi but we are back on a sleeping schedule. Cohen slept 12 hours last night, I actually woke him up this morning. I'm so happy that his schedule is back in order, that means sleep for everyone!
It's Friday which is the Saturday here so we are just hanging out while Cohen naps, I took a few pictures from the hotel balcony of the Corniche. It's really nice looking with lots and lots of parks everywhere. We can't enjoy them yet but by Fall it will be so nice to have loads of parks to choose from.
The far sandy island in the background is Lulu Island. That also looks quite fabulous.
I figure these will be things we see and do in a few months.

Happy Weekend!

Long but good

2008-06-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Cohen and I had a pretty great day today. It's been long but it was nice to be busy all day.
We went back to the crazy mall (seriously it has every store ever invented, i swear to god!) but the kids play area was closed for cleaning until 12noon, so i started wandering around and found another play place for kids and it was packed. The Abu Dhabi moms group has their regular toddler group play that day, so i decided to venture in. Cohen was too young compared to the other kids but he was thrilled to see so many kids and he explored while i followed behind.
The moms aren't super friendly but i kept smiling and figuring someone in the group HAD to be nice. Sure enough i met another Canadian mom from Calgary who has been here one month. We chatted for a while which was nice, exchanged cell numbers and then i packed up to come back to Hotel Yuck for Cohen's lunch and nap.
During that time we got a call from one of our new friends who invited us to visit the beach club that they are members at. Once Cohen was up from his nap off we went and it was sooooo great!!
There was a great little pool for babies with a big tarp like thing overhead so that it stays shady and there were like 4 other pools right beside the water.
There's a huge nice gym, spa treatments, kids area, spinning, yoga, etc. You can rent water sport stuff (boards, boats, etc.)
It was really fun and nice to be outside and it not be too hot or horrible.
Cohen had the best time splashing around in the pools.
Phil has been gone all day and it looks to me like 10-12 hour days will be the norm....sigh.
well at least it's the weekend so we can all finally hang out as a family. We got here on Sunday which is the Monday for Abu Dhabi so Phil has been working this whole time. It will be nice to do some family stuff and let Phil have some Cohen time.
I don't think people realize just how tiring and much work it is to take care of a toddler. I had no idea how much work kidlets are. Good work but none the less a lot of work.
Peace out!
UMA

I'm braver than I thought

2008-06-04T01:38:00.000-07:00

Well it's day 4 in the Middle East and with my husband working so much right now, I really needed to figure out what I was going to do each day.
It's hard to crack the mom network here but I'm confident that I can get in. I'll use my charm and chatty ways! :)
After yesterday being so miserable (I tried to walk outside with Cohen but in 47 degree weather, it's actually not possible) I needed to take charge.
I went to the car rental place - thank goodness it's only 1/2 a block away, Cohen and I only melted a little. I put my name on the car and then we headed out on the road. Everyone talks about how insane the driving is here and it is definitely different than Canada. Lots of honking and it's all about U-turns, so that makes things a little unpredictable, but C and I made it. We went to the Marina Mall. It is so huge, i barely went anywhere as I was afraid of getting lost. There is pretty much every store you can think of plus a zillion more that I've never heard of.
Supposedly they have a children's play area so I set off to find it...and we did!
It was great, so new and clean filled with lots of age appropriate toys for Cohen. I even met a lady and her twins there.
I was persistent in her talking to me and she eventually did which was great for me to ask lots of questions.
I need to find a nanny so that I can go to yoga or pilates or even dinner with Phil.
By the time I left there, I had her number, her nanny was going to call her friends and the lady at the play area offered to do part time for me and gave me her schedule.
Part time nannies are supposedly not allowed so you need to do it on the down low.
I don't know what I would do with a full time nanny right now plus I don't want someone living with me.
If I could get help 3 days a week that would be great. I could do the grocery shopping, go to yoga and stuff like that so that I could have a break from taking care of Cohen all by myself.
The best part is nannies are not very expensive, on the high end it's 1400drms which would be around $400/month. They need to live with you or else you have to pay them more.
I've signed Cohen up for music classes on Wednesday and if I can get into this mom and tot group on Mondays that would be great.
I can then do stroller fit on Sundays and Thursdays. The key for me for the first little while will be to say really busy, that way I don't feel so lonely.
Venturing out today for 2 hours was exactly what I needed.
I'll post some pics soon, there is definitely a lot of interesting pictures to be taken.
- UMA (Urbanmommy Arndrea)

The last session....well almost!!

2008-04-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

"Well, this was supposed to be my last training session but because of some confusion with booking my follow up assessment I get to come back to Mixx one more time. This week I had my posture analysis re-tested and there were some definite improvements. My lower back still has some curve in it, but my lateral posture has really improved. I guess trying to carry the kids on both hips instead of just the right has helped even things out a bit. Kim worked me hard as usual and I’m feeling quite pleased with the results I’m seeing. I’m keeping up with my time at the gym the best I can, but it’s so hard when things at home get hectic. It’s really easy to say “I’ll get to the gym tomorrow”. I have also decided to try and get back into running. I met up with a friend and we went out for 20 minutes the other day. I am still feeling the burn! It felt great, but it’ll take some time for my body to get back into running. One more session with Kim and then I’m all on my own. Scary!"
- Fit Mommy Jennifer

New and Improved

2008-04-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

We finally did it, Urbanmommies.com got a face lift!! We made some big changes to the site and we are thrilled.
There is now a handy dandy search function to help you find what you are looking for quickly. We created new categories grouping the articles and content in an easier to read and find format.
We hope you like the new site and find it easy to navigate through and use!
Happy Reading!!!
- The Urban Mommies

Coming to an end!!

2008-04-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

"I can’t believe my 8 weeks of training are coming to an end. It seems like we just started. I have looked forward to my session each week and will definitely miss meeting with Kim. I just finished training session number 7 so next week will be my last time. It’s been difficult trying to get to the gym on my own during the week, but I know how important it is to find the time and I always feel more energized when I do. At my final session next week Acacia will do my blueprint testing again and we’ll see how it compares to 8 weeks ago. I’m hoping there will be some improvements. Maybe I’ll work extra hard this week."
- Jennifer, Fit Mommy 2008

Week 6 for fit mommy Jennifer.....

2008-04-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

Fit Mommy 2008, Jennifer - "Working with Kim this week was great. I always feel so much better when I leave the club after a good workout. It just seems to take my mind off the stress of a teething baby and a testy toddler, and my patience is recharged for when I get back home to them. The beautiful weather has also inspired me to get up and moving outdoors. I love getting the kids and the dog out for a brisk walk around the boardwalk and then some playtime in the park. I have been noticing that my core has been getting stronger over the last 6 weeks. Some of the abdominal exercises they had me do at the beginning were extremely difficult and now I’m doing them with ease. It definitely feels amazing to be seeing improvements!"

First birthday AND first sickness...so not fair!!!

2008-04-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Well we finally had our first major sickness. It's amazing how little you realize it will rock your world until it happens and the best part of course is always the timing.
My husbands parents flew into town for our son's first birthday and were greeted with a fever and moaning baby.
To make matters worse, the weather has been typically Vancouver horrible and rainy so it's not exactly a tourists paradise right now.
Cohen our baby boy turned one, his party got canceled, he was too sick for the action.
Finally by the 3rd day his fever had broke and we were left with a vicious sounding cough. It's amazing how little sleep I need. As a mom, you just spend the night listening to their breathing, their restless sleep and the horrible coughing fits.
I tried the vicks vapour rub on his feet with socks. I don't know if it worked or not but he did have 4 solid hours without coughing last night.
I could go on and on about the insanity of the last week but I will not get into the details. I am hopeful for some better days, nights of sleep and cough-less good times!!
- UMA

Getting stronger!

2008-03-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

I had a great workout with Kim this week. She must be getting to know me better because she’s starting to really push me and give me more difficult exercises. I feel like I’m getting stronger too. A few of the exercises that I really struggled with in the past seemed to come much easier this week. I guess that’s a good sign of improvement. I’m still having trouble trying to get my 2 litres of water in each day. It seems like I’m constantly guzzling my water bottle and then running to the bathroom! Another exciting milestone is that my youngest child Nate has started going to sleep on his own without me. He’s 8 months and now my husband can take him up to his room, sing him a song and lie him down awake. It’s very liberating to have that freedom, but at the same time I feel sad that my baby doesn’t need me in that way anymore. It’s so tough to be a mommy sometimes!
- Jennifer, Fit Mommy Contest winner

Check out and try some of Jennifer's core exercises!!

Getting back on track....

2008-03-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weeks have been a little crazy. The stomach flu hit our household for the first time. It was so sad to see our little 2 year old feeling so sick. That definitely affected my workouts and I had to reschedule 2 of my sessions at Mixx . Even though I wasn’t able to get in all my workouts, I still did my best to eat clean and I don’t feel like I’m too far behind. We are all better now and back on track. I met with Kim yesterday and she kicked my butt. We did lots of leg and core work. It was tough and I’m definitely feeling some sore muscles today. I love that feeling because it reminds me that I had a great workout. I’m starting to see some results from my training. I feel like my arms are more toned and I’m working hard at trying to keep my posture in check. “Belly button to spine and shoulders down and back” – I have to keep repeating that to myself and hopefully one day it will just come naturally!
- Jennifer Fit Mommy 2008

Back to the grind......

2008-03-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

Today is day 2 being back at work after my maternity leave and I've got to say it's going really well.
I think the key for me was mentally preparing myself for this day and setting myself up for success. Luckily for me, I am at work only 3 days a week leaving me the rest of the week to play and have fun times with my little guy.
If you're a working mom and are finding it tricky to keep it all organized, it's worth checking out some time saving tips from life coach Ley-Ann Clark.
My number one tip is having lunches ready to go the night before, now if I could only get the milk to steam itself! :)

- UMA

Fit Mommy Week 3

2008-02-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

"Today during my session we went over the results of my Digital Posture Analysis . I definitely have some classic post-partum posture issues. My lower back curves in which makes my stomach stick out. I need to pay attention to standing straight up and pulling my belly button towards my spine. Also, my right hip and shoulder rest much higher than the left because I always carry the kids on my right side. So I need to try to carry the kids on both sides and make sure my posture is correct and my belly button pulled in before picking them up. I’m going to try to be more aware of keeping good posture this week and see how it goes."
- Jennifer

Week 2 working out - Fit Mommy Jennifer

2008-02-22T10:59:00.000-08:00

This week has been pretty good. I made it to the gym twice on my own and spent lots of time outside with the family. We’ve been walking every day, and with the beautiful weather the last few days we’ve even gone for a couple of bike rides with the kiddies in the bike trailer. I have also been making a real effort to eat better and get more water into me. My workout with Kim this week went really well. We did some interesting exercises that worked my core and spent some time on abdominal exercises to target that post partum tummy! I think my muscles are starting to wake up and remember what it’s like to have a good workout.

- Jennifer Altman

Daycare is a tough world out there

2008-02-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hours, Days, Weeks I have spent looking for the right daycare for my son. I feel like I could write a book on this experience as I've never encountered so many issues, problems and things to think about regarding daycare.
I have decided to go back to work 3 days a week and want to find some part time help. Being that this is my first time looking for daycare, I had no idea what I was up against.
Vancouver alone only has 14 Infant/Toddler programs. That's right 14 programs for all of Vancouver. The best part is they all have massive waiting lists anywhere from 1 - 4 years, yes that's correct 4 years!!! So where are all the kids going?
I've had to move my search to North Vancouver to find some options. There seems to be as many care facilities in N.Van as there are in Vancouver which seems so wrong to me. The good news is I have managed to find somewhere that I like but no without sifting through some unsavory places.
If you are in the same predicament as me I suggest, touring facilities before your child is born and putting them on a few waiting lists. If you like me didn't do this step, then make sure you contact the Westcoast Childcare Resource Center and go through the checklist of what you should be looking for and asking when visiting child care facilities.

I wish you all the best of luck!

The first workout!

2008-02-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Altman (Urbanmommies.com Fit Mommy 2008 winner)
"I had my first workout session today at Mixx. It was so great to kiss my husband and kids good-bye and head out the door for some much needed “me” time. With a toddler, a baby and a crazy dog, my needs somehow always seem to come last. That is why I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be able to focus a little bit on myself. I met my trainer Kim and we quickly got started going over my fitness goals. We spent the session doing a combination of squats, lunges, weights and mat exercises. It felt amazing to get active again and I had a great workout. It was so refreshing to engage in adult conversations and listen to music that did not consist of Raffi or The Wiggles. The best part was that I left feeling energized and excited to get home and spend the afternoon with my husband and kids."

Fit Mommy - Week 1

2008-02-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

It was with much anticipation that I made my way to the Mixx Co-Fitness Studio for my initial consultation. I was thrilled to hear the news that I had been chosen as the Fit Mommy winner, and I’m ready to take this opportunity and get back to a fit and healthier me.
I was met by Shari who gave me a tour of the beautiful facilities and we went over what my exciting package would include. Next I met with Acashia who did my posture analysis and put me through a few other fitness assessments. Overall my results were not bad, but pregnancy and motherhood have definitely taken their toll on my posture and stomach muscles! I’m extremely excited to get started, and my first training session will take place next week. I will keep you posted on my progress!

- Jennifer

Fit Mommy 2008 Begins!

2008-02-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

Fit Mommy 2008 has begun!
Jennifer Altman won the Urbanmommies.com Fit Mommy Contest and is on her way to starting an 8 week program designed by Mixx Co Fitness.
Jennifer will keep us updated weekly on how's she's feeling, how juggling mommyhood and fitness is working out and what fitness moves and goals she's planning on tackling over the next 8 weeks.
Good Luck Jennifer, we're cheering you on!!!!

Love is in the Air

2008-02-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

8 days till Valentine's Day! If you are looking for some fun stuff to do this month, check out The Little Sweetheart Ball. It's a chance for hot mamas, hip dads and tiny tots to come out and support Rethink Breast Cancer.
Looking for a unique present this Valentine's for your little one? What about a "I love you to the moon and back" customized sign for your baby's room along with the book.
For your bigger sweetheart, try making chocolate covered strawberries, they are so easy to make and always are a crowd pleaser!
Happy Love Month!

Too much to do and not enough time

2007-10-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

It feels as if time is moving at the speed of light. I can't actually believe that November is in 2 days, there must be some mistake. Halloween is tomorrow which should be lots of fun, especially since this is our first Halloween with a baby. Our plan is to use his cuteness to score chocolate and candy for ourselves!!! If you are looking for some fun Halloween Family activities be sure to visit Urbanmommies.com and check out the community events, we are always updating them regularly.

-UMA

Tradeshows = Tired Mommy

2007-10-22T10:16:00.001-07:00

Well we just finished the Baby and Family Tradeshow last night. It was a complete success!! There was alot of people for us to meet and mingle with. The best part would be that so many moms knew who we were and are using our site!!!
My husband did a fantastic job taking care of our son for the whole weekend, I was very lucky to come home to an awesome dinner each night.
Now it's on to Halloween and the fun family events that are happening all around the city.
Our Urbanmommies.com facelift should be complete in the next few weeks. We are so excited for the changes to the site. It's going to be so great to have our articles and information more accessible to our readers.

Happy Monday!

- Urbanmommie A

The Turkey was terrific!

2007-10-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone again. I love Thanksgiving so much, it always makes me a little sad when it's over. Our turkey was amazing, my husband really did an outstanding job.
Cohen was such a peach all day. He had so much attention from his Nana, Grandpa and Aunt and Uncle, he was in his glory. Cohen is eating now which is really fun, lots of mess and more to think about, but it's great!
We did the Turkey Trot yesterday, well actually we did the Tot Trot and it was fun, fun, fun! The weather could not have been better. It was a sunny and crisp fall morning.
There are some great tradeshows for moms, babies and families coming up. Definitely set some time aside this October and check them out!!
Well I guess it's back to the grind.......

UMA

Sleep is beautiful!!!

2007-09-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!! Cohen is sleeping through the night and I couldn't be happier. I finally have had 5 nights of sleep and it is bliss. I type this realizing that this good fortune could turn at any minute. There will be more teething and that means more nights of no sleep and no fun for anyone.
Urbanmommies.com did a big tradeshow this month and we are set for another show in October. The site is becoming the resource that Sydney and I really hoped it would become. The Ask and Expert panel is so great. We have such an amazing crew of professionals ready to answer moms pregnancy and new baby questions.
What's next for us? Well we are really focusing on building our name and awareness, so I expect there will be alot of tradeshows, and more networking.
Go Urbanmommies.com Go!!!!

2007....off to a great start!

2007-01-18T20:38:00.000-08:00

Well we are definitely starting 2007 on the right foot.
Within the first 10 days we had coverage from the Province Newspaper on the Canadian Sextuplets. They wanted our take on the costs, quantities and needs that these new parents were going to soon find out about.
I think one of our biggest goals for 2007 is to offer our readers more good content that they can take and use on a regular basis leading up to and after the birth of their child.
We are expanding our community and library reading times to all of the Lower Mainland which gives our readers a broader range of events throughout BC.
I wish everyone a wonderful 2007!
Now if it would only stop raining/slushing/snowing!!!

- Urbanmommie A

Halloween is coming

2006-10-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

What fun, what fun, what fun!
I love Halloween. Watching all the kids get so excited to put on their special cape, wings, hat or shoes and feel like they are becoming a character that they love, it's so much fun to see.
The downside for us adults is the damn candy staring us down at home. I have eaten so many skittles or starburst bites i actually think i'm becoming sick of them.
I love that Vancouver has so many fun events and things to do at Halloween.
The Stanley Park Ghost Train which runs until the beginning of November is so much fun.
The 6th Annual Pumpkin patch in the City is happening on the 28th,
at the Frogs Hollow Neighbourhood House in Vancouver.
If you are looking for fun Halloween events for your kids and whole family, check out Urbanmommies.com October community events which list lots of fun, and even free things to do in the city this Halloween.

Happy Trick or Treating!!!

The UM's

Make that Urban Mommies x 2

2006-10-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well our little site www.urbanmommies.com is going strong and we couldn't be having more fun.
It's amazing what cool canadian stores and products are out there and how many fantastic people and companies we are meeting along the way.
The best part is that instead of Sydney being the Urbanmommy and me being the marketer behind the scenes, I'm now officially on my way to becoming an Urbanmommy too!

I'm 3 1/2 months preggie and am feeling great! (aside from the tight pants, that is!)

It's official, we are really live!

2006-07-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

So today doesn't mark the actual day 1 of www.urbanmommies.com but it does mark the beginning.

Let us introduce ourselves - We are Arndrea and Sydney two veteran best friends (18 years and counting) who decided that the only way we were going to see each other more often was if we started our own business. Luckily for us, all of our friends recently had babies and we were able to recognize that there was a lack of online information that didn't bounce you to a US site. Nothing against America here, but we live in Canada, so let's support Canadian businesses.
Sydney, a mom of two and me, a hope to be mom soon, got together and collaberated what is now known as www.urbanmommies.com

We are so excited to share with new and expectant moms and dads in Vancouver all the information and resources that Vancouver has to offer.
When we intially started this I don't think we realized just how much information and amazing finds and homegrown products there are in our great city.

Our goal and objective is to provide new and expectant parents current and useful information on pre, during and post baby.

Let us know if you have any questions or ideas for the site as we are always looking for more Vancouver baby and new mommy information.

Check us out - www.urbanmommies.com

Signed the bff's
S & A