Huggies Lounge

The Huggies Lounge is a place you can take a break from shopping and relax while the kids are entertained with story time along with lots of fun games and activities. While the kids are having fun, for you there are guest speakers talking about topics associated with child development, baby food, sleeping and more. There are giveaways and free gifts.
If you register at the event you go into the running to win a 3 month supply of Huggies products.
Each lounge session runs for approximately 40 minutes, there are generally 3 sessions per day and below are the dates and places.

  Eastland Shopping Centre VIC: February 16, 17, 18
  Westfield Fountain Gate, VIC: February 23, 24, 25
  Northland Shopping Centre VIC: March 16, 17, 18
  Werribee Plaza VIC: March 23, 24, 25
  Chadstone Shopping Centre VIC: April 4, 5, 6

I went to an Eastland session. The kids had story time and could play with toys. While the guest speaker was in the kids got given colouring in books and crayons. The information I got out of the session was quite good but fairly general. Once the guest speaker was finished they stayed back to answer any questions or conserns you might have had.
One peice of information I learnt was:
 - You shouldn't let your baby fall asleep with a bottle as there is sugar in formular it is bad if it just sits in your babies mouth for their teeth even if they havnt come through yet.
I dont do that but I do know a few fellow mums who do, so I thought I would pass on that tip.
A giveaway the Huggies Lounge also had was if you brought Huggies nappies and brought them a reciept you recived a free kids single sheet set, I'm not sure if they are doing that everywhere but if you purchase nappies the week of when the Huggies Lounge near you take it in and see if they have anything free for you.

For more info click here.

Disposable Nappies

Huggies? DriBots? Pampers? Babylove? Snugglers? Homebrand? Aldi? Woolworths?

There are so many nappies brands out there, it can be a little overwhelming. I started off using huggies and brought the boxes when on special (For newborns apparently they are the best).

I have tried about 5 different brands and from what I have noticed, there isnt much difference between nappies they all pretty much do the same thing. I found Aldi nappies were small so if you do want to try them get the next weight size up. I think I used the 4-9kg nappies and they were too small around the legs for E who was only about 6kg at the time.

My motivator is price. I work it out per nappy as there are different amounts in different packs. At the moment I buy the Woolworths unisex nappies. They work out to be around 27c (for 4-9kg) as apposed to 30-40c each for other brands and find the sizing great. Have a look around when buying nappies, try different ones and go with what works for you and what motivates you and your lifestyle. And don't forget to look out for the specials!

Warburton Fun Run Feb 2011

Sunday 27th of Feburary Warburton are holding a Fun Run at the Recreational Reserve.

There is the possibility of participating in:
- 2km Kids Fun Run (Under 16)
Start time: 8.30am
Online Entry Fee - $5 per child under 16


-5km Open Walk (Able to take prams however due to the recent rains may be rough)
Start time: 8.30am
Online Entry Fee - $5 per person

- 5km Fun Run
Start time: 9.30am


Online Entry Fees - $25 Adult

                                - $10 Child under 16

                                - $15 Senior (60+)

                                - $45 Per family (2-5)

- 10km Fun Run

Start time: 9.30am
Online Entry Fees - $25 Adult
                                - $10 Child under 16
                                - $15 Senior (60+)

More Info

Caribbean Gardens Babies to Kids Maternity Market

Babes to Kids and Maternity Markets run on the first Friday of every month. There is always plenty of activities to do and also free face painting.

It’s only $5 to set up a stall and you can sell anything from baby to kids clothing and maternity wear, toys, cots, prams, change tables, bibs, blankets and all types of accessories.

The Market is open all day from 8.30am-2.30pm with free entry, free parking and free train rides (between 9 and 11am), The Caribbean Gardens and Market offers a perfect day out for the whole family.


More Info

Mums and Bubs Movies

Yesterday I made my way to Hoyts Eastland Ringwood for the Mums and Bubs movie session.

It was nice to get out of the house and not feel too bad if bubs is crying. As the movie session is in a normal theater I would suggest to not worry about a pram unless your early or just leave it at the very front of the cinema - just remember to keep them clear of exits.
The only downfall I found was that the session wasnt just for mums and bubs there were people without babies there too which I think was ok but the website or when purchasing the tickets should let people so they can alternatively go to a different session if they dont want crying babies...I was worried those people might get a bit annoyed.
Mums and bubs sessions are the first session of the day fortnightly Thursdays (some places weekly) for specific movies for only $9, BARGIN! Check out here for the next sessions.
The lights were just dimmed for easy feeding, however I have been before where they have given me a battery candle to feed with which was a little difficult.
Definitely recommend for a mothers group catch up or just an excuse to get out of the house. The pancake parlor is also next door, so you dont need to travel far for a good feed too.

I have done some research and the AMC theaters in America unfortunately don't have this kind of program, the closest thing was a Sensory Friendly Film so check   it out here.

Best Gluten-Free Choc Chip Cookies Ever!

Combine in bowl:
125gms of melted butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
1 3/4 cup of gluten free self raising flour (of course you dont have to use gluten-free ingredients)
125gms of gluten free choc chips (more is good too and you can also use white choc chips or use both)

Roll into small balls and pop in 200degree oven for 10mins, cool and EAT

Blog Hopping Tuesdays

I love this idea!

A fellow blogger 'The Adventures of My Family of 8' invite bloggers to 'link up' every Tuesday (Wednesdays in Australia) and join them on their adventure of blog hopping to help try make some like minded friends and to have some fun.
Each week a blog is chosen at random using random.org to be a featured blog from the previous week.
Have you 'linked up' your blog yet? Click on the blog hopping link above to join the fun.

First Words

Well, E said her first words a little while ago, it was when she was about 6 months old and she started saying Bubbubbub, soooooo cute. She now says it like its going out of fashion! We also think she says 'woof' every now and again, but I'm sure she probably wont want to claim that as her first word when she gets older, so we will just leave it as bub :). 
E even seems to create a sentence using just the word bub over and over- I'm sure she thinks I know what she is really saying, she just get that look on her face. 
E is now in training to say mum, as long as she says it before dad I will have done my job, however I don't like my chances...
What were your kids first words? Did they say mum before dad (please say yes, please say yes)?

Swim Swim Swim

Teaching your baby to swim can be a fun bonding activity for both parents to take part in or a great activity for mothers/parents groups. Not only teaching your baby to swim can familiarizing them with water can be fun but extremely beneficial in helping your baby feel comfortable in water and making the introduction to swimming lessons later a lot easier. Early swim programs are generally designed to help children start to understand some water safety and learn to respect water.
Generally children who drown have actually been supervised however unfortunately the level of supervision has not been adequate, it only takes a few seconds, when a parent is distracted, for a drowning to occur. 


Some safety tips around water:
- Always actively supervise your child
- Always be within arms reach of your child when they are in the water
- Never turn your back on your child when they are in or near water, any water!
- Don't rely on anyone else to supervise, even lifeguards (they have a lot of people to try and keep watch on)


Contact your local pool or organize to go swimming with your family today!


(Source: VICSWIM and an article by Kylie Hansen)

Not Pretty, Not Fun

This picture is of me at my baby shower, I was so puffy, I hated it!

I'm not sure who said pregnancy is a great and beautiful thing, it's not. 

Yes, it's amazing your creating another human being, your own flesh and blood but all those things that go with it, definitely not attractive. I referred to being pregnant as going through puberty again. 

To begin with apart from feeling sick for the first few weeks (sometimes it can be longer) I started going through the fat stage where I just looked like I had put on weight in my gut, I started thinking everyone (especially people I had not told) were looking at me, judging me because I had put on weight. I got really hairy especially in embarrassing places (ie. my snail trail), my hair and skin become oily, my breasts got larger and of course sore, my hips expanded and toward the end my areola got darker and became alot larger. I got stretch marks, kankles and sausage fingers. Where is the fun in all that?

In the end I also felt really venerable walking through the streets alone, my iron was really low so I had minimal energy definitely not enough if someone wanted to attack me and because my belly was so big I definitely would not have been able to run. I could not see the fun and excitement!