Bullying Stops Here!

Puree Party!

Nutrition was at the forefront of momstown Milton's event this afternoon. Nutrition of our babies that is! Moms and babies gathered today to participate in a Baby Food Exchange. Making our own baby food was important to all, but to many moms, it can be an intimadating thought...where do we even start? Some of our babies have yet to try food yet, so we discussed how to introduce foods, and what to start with while our babies babbled happily to one another. We also discussed what purees we were thinking of making for our exchange next month- blends of meat, rice, fish, vegetables, fruits...the possibilities are endless!

The exchange made the task of making our own baby food seem easier. Each mom made 10 cups of one type of puree, enough for each mom to go home with 2 cups of each blend. No sugar or salt was added to the purees, they were made purely from the fruit or vegetable of our choice. As this was our first exchange, and for most babies, it will be their first taste of food, we mainly made single purees. Some moms had prepackaged the portions, which made portioning them into the trays to freeze, super easy!

At the end of our exchange, we each had the following purees: sweet potato, avacado, peas, carrots, blueberries and pears with apple. Now for the fun part- introducing the yummy purees to our babies!

The Perfect Snow Day

Ask any child what their favourite thing is about winter and the universal answer will more than likely be SNOW! This year has been a bit of a disappointment for most since we've only had a hint of it here and there, making brief appearances not long enough to enjoy any of the winter activiites that go along with it.



Well at momstown, we aim to please so our Milton chapter came up with a unique way to enjoy the prefect snow day - INDOORS at our Tales for Tots hosted by Indigo! We started off by building a snowman out of mini marshmallows. This was a big hit with the kids since it was a multipurpose craft - snack and art piece all in one!





While the toddlers and preschoolers were constructing their crafts, the infants were kept busy engaging in a snow ball fight. The light, fluffy jumbo marshmallows were just the right size for little hands to grab a hold of and throw.




We then settled down to read our Scholastic sponsored book The Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid. The kids listened attentively and enjoyed the vivid illustrations that this book had to offer. Congrats to Phillip who was super excited to take home his very own copy for his book collection.

Family Day Activities in Milton

Looking for something to do to keep you and your little ones busy this Family Day Weekend? Check out these great events!

Milton Fair's First Annual Family Day Winter Fest

Monday February 20, 2012
Featuring Midway and Demolition Derby

Gates open at 9:00 AM and Derby at 1:00 PM
Admission Price: Teens & Adults: $5;
Children (12 and under): Free when accompanied by an adult

Limited Parking.
Call:905-878-5689 for more information.




momstown Milton families will be visiting Mountsberg Conservation Park for the Tales by a Winter Fire Event on Sunday February 19, 2012.

Tales by a Winter Fire" - think of winter in the country; imagine the sound of snow groaning under the runners of a horse-drawn sleigh or sharing stories around the warmth and crackle of an outdoor bonfire, rosy cheeks after hiking along wintry trails, the excitement of a toboggan run comes to mind.

All of this and more will happen for you at the ‘Tales by a Winter’s Fire’ program, on the Family Day Weekend (Sunday, Monday) February 19 and 20th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Join us for a memorable winter experience for the whole family.
Regular gate fees apply.

During this event you can also take a Horse Drawn Wagon or Sleigh Ride for $3/adult; $2/child.




RBG Centre - February 20

I was surrounded by Babes on Valentines Day!

Lucky, lucky me!

For the first time Ever, I got to spend my Valentine's Day surrounded by babes.No really! REAL babes! Every direction I looked, there was another one! And another one. And another one! And, at one point: some of the babes were even shirt-less!



"HOW did I get to be so lucky??", is what I kept asking myself.

I got to spend Valentine's Day afternoon at Scribble and Splatter engaging little ones in making Valentine Day crafts. For some, this was their 1st Valentine's Day ever and their excitement was contagious. Infants rolling around in red and white paint creating pink painted hearts.



Toddlers and preschoolers patterning and gluing pink and red felt to jumbo sized hearts that went along perfectly with our educational curriculum theme of Mixing and Matching.



We then gathered around for circle time to read "Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney. It was a real celebration of love!



In our busy, fast paced week, we sometimes forget to say I love you, or to celebrate what life really, Is about: Love! I'm happy that all of our momstown friends were able to get together, to share our common desire to give love and to feel loved. What a great way to spend Valentines Day!



This blog was written by our newest team member Kelly McArdle.



Kelly knows what being a mom is all about. She is Mom to Kyle, 5, and Julian, 2. and completely understands children's need for stimulation and a Mom's needs to keep their kids stimulated. She has participated in numerous infant and toddler play groups including, mom and baby yoga, mom and baby fitness, infant and toddler music, and infant and toddler crafts.

When she's not working with young children she is a certified Yoga Therapist and guided by the compassionate philosophy of yoga.Kelly is energized by the curiousity and 'love for life' that younger children naturally exhibit, and enjoys feeding their interests and developing their sense of fun and sociability.

The Truth about Sex after Kids

Quote: “There's just too much pressure. What with my job, the kids, traffic snarls, political strife at home and abroad. But I promise you, the second all those things go away, we'll have sex.” Homer Simpson


After having children sex with your partner becomes not unlike the mythological creature Big Foot. People claim to have seen it, there are legends of it happening but there is no actual proof. Just a couple of blurry photos and strange hair in weird places. Ew. With Valentines Day fast approaching I have to wonder how other parents find the time or energy to keep the magic alive. Between raising two kids, working two jobs, play dates, swimming lessons, and everything else that comes along with parenting I feel like there are not enough hours or enough caffeine to even consider having a good romp with my hubby.



Sex has become a scheduled event in my day planner alongside things like “Visiting the Butterfly Conservatory” and “Grandmas Birthday”. Even with careful planning I find the dates and times almost impossible to stick too. I feel like I am trapped in some bad nature channel special with your host Outback Jack trying too prove that sex between busy parents ever really existed.

“We are here deep in the wilderness trying to catch a glimpse of the elusive Beast with Two Backs….”

There are so many things you must take into consideration when scheduling intimacy down to the second. Where to have it (are you really willing to injure yourself on the bathroom counter for it?), what outfit is the easiest/fastest to get out of (skirts always work best), where are the kids (will they hear us?) and of course do we have time for foreplay? To all the men reading this YOU ALWAYS HAVE TIME FOR FOREPLAY.




There are so many factors that can distract you from your goal of intercourse but I have narrowed my favourites down to my three most important “rules” to live by when getting it on. You may notice they are not unlike the “Rules” established in the 1984hit movie Gremlins.

Number 1: NEVER FEED THEM AFTER MIDNIGHT. Ok so no mother is actually up after midnight let alone after 9pm unless your little one is having a bad night sleep. We can just say no big meals 2hrs before and definitely nothing carbonated to drink. This may be your last chance for a while to seal the deal so you don’t want to become bloated or have some ill-timed indigestion or heartburn episode to spoil the mood.

Number 2: KEEP THEM AWAY FROM BRIGHT LIGHTS. You will most likely have to do your love making undercover. You only have a short period of time to complete the task and if it happens to be during the day when others are home turning the lights on may draw attention to you and your partner. Plus, you probably have not slept properly in months and keeping the lights dimmed not only creates a romantic atmosphere but can also camouflage the bags under your eyes and the baby food on your shirt.

Number 3: NEVER NEVER GET THEM WET. This may be the most crucial of all the rules. Sure a sexy shower does seem like it would be great fun and the sound of the water may in fact drown out some of the sounds that you make during coitus but when you are in a time crutch completely stripping down to your b-day suit takes up precious seconds. Plus there is always the explaining afterwards to the curious kids on why both of your heads of hair are wet and they only heard one shower.

If all of these rules are followed, careful planning is done, the kids go to sleep on time, outfits are reversible, rooms are sound proofed, lights are left dim, you only eat a light lunch and you still have the energy then you too may be able to keep the magic alive. And honey, if you are reading this – I will see you 2 weeks from Thursday 3:14pm sharp in the broom closet.



This blog was written by our new fabulous and extremely humorous mommy blogger Jenny Dean.

At your wits end! Let momstown connect you with some REAL solutions!

My little guy just turned two and oh what a joy it is! I love the fact that he is starting to be able to communicate more effectively by vocalizing what his needs are - sometimes. He is starting to test the waters, push his limits and see what kind of rise he can get out of me every step of the way. Sometimes it is a challenge to keep my cool and remember that this is the norm and he is just testing his independence. Sometimes I just feel like I'm at my wits end, feeling like a broken down record saying the same thing over and over and over again! If there's anyone else that feels this way too, there is hope!

momstown.ca is excited to partner with Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions, to offer a FREE live training webinar: Get Kids to Listen without Nagging, Reminding or Yelling!




We have 2 options for you to attend - Tuesday, February 21st from 9-10 PM EST or
8 – 9PM PST (11 - 12 PM) EST!!

Amy promises that we’ll walk away with concrete tools we can use the next day and see results. I know you'll be especially interested in learning the 5 R’s of Fair and Effective Consequences. You can watch, listen and even interact with Amy.

Participants are not required to have a webcam, only a computer with speakers.
Webinar seating will be limited so learn more and RSVP now!

So grab a drink, a notepad and a quiet spot and get ready to learn some great tips that will help you get through the terrible twos, the trying threes, etc...

Everyone is welcome and you can extend the invite to friends and family on Facebook by clicking here!

Caged Babies: Saving our Sanity

My oh my how things have changed. Its a shame they don't sell these anymore. It is multifunctional too! Comes with curtains for a breezy sleep nook! Remove the padding and no need for diapers or bibs! Oh how well people had it back then! I'm kidding... I think I am anyways. If it's not a window cage its something else. A playpen, a gated room, a locked closet (wait what?). These are all techniques us moms introduce to maintain our sanity. Some nights (last night for me) we get very little sleep. Our babies have their own schedule and for the first little while we follow it whether we like it or not. Even if it means party time at 4am. So to get that extra dose of morning caffeine, or even a little shut eye, we have to find little tricks to save our sanity.

But I also need my sleep. I need to shower. I need to do laundry. I need to eat. I struggle to find time for myself.




I've been creative with media to help with tummy time. My baby hates tummy time. He has hated Tummy Time since day 1. I used to prop him up a little with a rolled up towel but he is now long past that. Since he has figured out how to roll from tummy to his back Tummy Time has been an even bigger challenge. He lasts about 10 second on his front until he decides to roll over. This shouldn't be a big deal for most moms but it is for me. He has some issues on one side of his neck and shoulders causing him to always turn to that side (another breastfeeding challenge). This was likely caused by high forcep delivery when he was yanked from me in the most aggressive way possible. His pediatrician said that more tummy time can help balance this out. So how do I get him to stay on his tummy? Baby Einstein of course! I've tried throwing toys and books on the floor infront of him but he's just not interested yet.




It is very important to have these methods or you end up doing stupid things. Take the picture below for example:



This is our Diaper Genie. Full of dirty diapers and last nights explosion perched on top. The blue bag hangs down with that oh so important knot tied at the bottom. Well guess what I forgot to do last time I changed the Diaper Genie. Tie a freaking knot. So this mess is what I blindly stuck my hand into this morning when I went to change the bag. Delightful. I was in such denial I called my husband and asked if he changed the bag last. I was thinking I could not have done such a thing! I did. He hasn't ever changed it and doesn't even know how it opens. I had to accept the facts: I'm an idiot. Apparently I need to cage my baby more often. A sane mom is a happy mom, and a happy mom has a happy baby!

This blog was written by member Sarah Smith. She's a first time mom weeding through the ins and outs of mommy hood.

Confessions of an Unfit Mother

Quote: “That’s not sweat, it’s my body crying….” Anonymous

Are you there Richard Simmons? It’s me…Unfit Mommy. I just got my “A” kicked by a lovely Fitness Guru from CardioCore named Leanne. I’m in so much freakin pain right now. I am feeling parts of my body I didn’t know existed. Did you know there were muscles behind your knees?? My thighs are burning so much if I rub them together I think I could light the pilot on my furnace. Did I mention I am writing this from the floor of my bedroom where I landed Tuesday night and cannot get up from…?


Being a former Athlete (high school sports teams count right?) and totally being the master at Wii Zumba I figured I would have no problem keeping up with a little fitness demo with the Momstown Crew. With my yoga mat under my arm (tags still on), my water bottle, and my cute little shorts I bought that morning I walked into that gymnasium feeling pretty confident. This would be a piece of cake. Mmmm cake. Anyways, I stepped threw the open door into the building and looked around the large space we would be calling home for the next hour. It reminded me of the gym we had in middle school. Standard Basketball Court-CHECK. Floors that squeak with the touch of my sneakers – CHECK. I felt very comfortable and eager to start working out. I turned my head and saw a smiling face staring back at me. It was Leanne our wonderful Cardio Core Instructor/Angel of Death. Her sweet smile and gentle voice showed me no indication of the pain and suffering I would be feeling later on. In front of me stretched an ominous row of bright orange pylons that seemed to go on forever. To the left I saw piles of 5lb weights and small towels strategically placed around the gym floor. “We are going to have so much fun!” an optimistic Leanne said. I don’t remember props on my "Sweating to the Oldies" DVDs I thought to myself. It was at this point I realized “Richard, I don’t think we’re at Dairy Queen anymore”.

Over the next few minutes others started to trickle in the door for our night of sweaty fun. The regulars were in full gear with their own weights and mats in tow. Each person looking more ripped then the last. I swear I saw one of the ladies on the cover of Oxygen Magazine last month. Leanne introduced me to the group of buff goddesses. Everyone was very friendly, encouraging and supportive with me being a Newbie to the club. I felt intrigued by the workout equipment around the room and I was excited to start the class.


We started our workout with some laps around the gym followed by sprints across the room, and high kicks. Then we continued with links of lunges and squats. After what seemed like an eternity my heart was racing, my breath was short, legs were shaking, and sweat drenched my body. I was ready to call it a day when Leanne said “Great warm up guys – now let’s get started!” Let’s get started?!? You mean we’re not finished? My body asked.

We moved onto other combos – Spider Climbs, followed by planking, Sumo Squats, and Burpees along with other torturous activities my body has never done before. For those of you who don’t know “Burpee” is Latin for “Death by jumping push-ups”.



To watch the regulars in the class you would think these moves were so easy. They effortlessly moved across the floor with grace and precision from position to position. Every movement like a perfectly executed ballet of intensity and strength. Then there was me still struggling to complete my first crunch in a pile of jelly on the floor.



After an hour with some prayer and a lot of wonderful encouragement from Leanne and the group I completed the “Modified” program without vomiting. WOOT WOOT! As I clasped onto the yoga mat in a puddle of my own perspiration a feeling of relief and triumph washed over me. Was it because even with a lack of oxygen to my brain I could still remember those three important numbers - 911? Strangely no. It was that now I could see why these ladies push themselves like crazy every week. The feeling of accomplishment and pride is overwhelming and completely diminishes the fact I may never walk again. I rolled over onto my right side hoping I could regain the strength to crawl from my mat outside to my car 20 feet away when one of the girls asks, “Are you coming back Thursday?”

This blog was written by our new fabulous and extremely humorous mommy blogger Jenny Dean. Please give her a warm welcome by leaving her a comment on your thoughts about this post.