Friday 26 December 2014

Three months


Age - three months

Weight - 14lb (not official just by weighing Auntie Katie with and without BG)

Height - 24" (again not official just her Auntie using Grandma's measuring tape)

Sleeping habit - Still a great sleeper at night (fingers crossed) and little naps during the day but she sleeps the longest on people.

Eating habits - Roughly every 3 hours. She will take a bottle of breast milk now which is great. We've both been sick so she had been shorter feeds, every 2 hours which was super draining.

Favorite activity - Squealing, kicking or cuddling her friends.



Milestones - She's 100% found her hands. She loves to stroke soft things, eat her hands and will grab your hand to put her pipka in her mouth.

Firsts - Christmas


If you like to compare/contrast here is Blondie Boy's 3 month update.

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Wednesday 26 November 2014

Two Months


Age - two months

Weight - 11lb 8oz (as of last week)


Height - 23" according to her check-up last week


Sleeping habit - She still doing a big sleep overnight and then only little cat naps during the day. That said she slept for 4+ hours this afternoon while I met a new friend for coffee. She'd just had her jags though so probably that!

Eating habits - Still 3-4 hours although yesterday she was on an every 2 hours mini-feed thing and didn't go to bed until 3am. I just started pumping today and hopefully she will take a bottle of breast milk from her Dad tonight.

Favorite activity - Watching American football...I'm not even joking the girl loves the NFL. She's also a fan of the bouncy chair and smiling.





Milestones - She had her 2 month vaccines which now include an oral vaccine for rotovirus which is new since BB had his 8 week vaccinations. She can also pull her pipka out of her mouth herself which is kinda crazy hand-eye coordination!

Firsts - Flight (transatlantic and domestic), funeral and passport. I promise I'll blog about flying with a newborn soon. I've said it twice now so that means I have to do it right?

If you like to compare/contrast here is Blondie Boy's 2 month update which includes a wee video of him at this age too. Do you think they are alike?

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Tuesday 18 November 2014

Bess Kanter 1922-2014

I've been a bad blogger; I've not blogged or even managed to stick up a guest post in 3 weeks. Since Baby Girl was born a few really shitty things have happened. I won't get in to it all just now but I had other things to worry about (in addition to new baby worries!) and just couldn't really bothered to do much. Then unfortunately my Grandma Bess, my last living grandparent, passed away. 

I know I was extremely lucky to have three grandparents live into their 90s but it still hurt to lose three in the last 18 months. My Grandma Bess hadn't been 100% herself the past two years; she was still Bess but things were getting foggier and jumbled after a series of strokes. She was always fiercely independent and I know she wouldn't have wanted to stay in a perpetual state of time confusion where her past memories intermingled with her new future.

She had a flair for the dramatic and decided, after another suspected stroke, that 92 years was enough. Not just anyone dies on their birthday, so I like to think she at least went out in style. I was able to talk to her on the phone and even though she couldn't respond I'd like to think she knew. My sister was there with her when she passed away and I know both my Mom and I were ever so grateful for that.

It may sound silly but she wasn't just my Grandma, but one of my best friends. When I was a little girl I'd put on her nightgowns and stuff my toys down her couch so I wouldn't have to leave. I remember staying up and watching The Golden Girls and Tracey Ullman Show with her, going to the pool (she tanned and gossiped while we swam) and she always had those mini boxes of cereal for us of the sugary brands my parents never bought. She doted on my sister, cousin and I.

She always without fail told me how pretty I looked when we'd Face Time. I could have a dirty ponytail and no make-up, she didn't care. She loved and adored us without question. She welcomed NotBlondeHusband the same and would tell her friends how her grandson was taller than her china cabinet. She loved and believed in us all and supported each of us.

I've written before about how she was the original Carrie Bradshaw and I know my Mom, sister and myself all got our passion for fashion from her. Bright red nailpolish and lipstick will always remind me of her and I'm so lucky to have two of her rings--one for myself and one for Baby Girl when she is older. She loved sparkle and I know she wouldn't want any of her rings to sit away in a drawer not worn.

I've rambled on a bit here but to be honest I didn't get much time to work through any of this. When I heard she wasn't going to get better NotBlondeHusband left work early and drove Baby Girl and I to Edinburgh to the US consulate to get her an emergency passport as Jewish funerals happen as soon as possible. While we were there my Grandmother passed away and as soon as we got back in Glasgow I booked a flight home for the next morning.

Flying with a newborn isn't as bad as you'd think but that's a post for another time.  I'm so lucky to have had such a wonderful, loving, honest and funny woman in my life. I have so many wonderful memories and funny Bess stories that I will always keep close to my heart.  

She once told me that bitches live forever, so we had nothing to worry about. She just didn't realize she was nothing of the sort. I love you Bessala and while I'm glad you don't have to live with one foot in the past and one in the present any more, I still am going to miss you more than anything. I'm so glad to have had you in my life as long as I did, but I just wish we could have kept you for a little bit more.

Bessie Kanter
11/4/22 - 11/4/14

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Wednesday 29 October 2014

What I Wore Wednesday: Meet House of Polynesia

I'll be having a series of guest posts scheduled over the next few weeks as I'm recovering post c-section and settling into life with our new baby. I'll be writing baby posts but won't be very fashionable! Please show the guest bloggers some love and be sure to visit their blogs! Interested in having a guest post? Just drop me an email!

Aloha every one so glad to be here; I'm Kathleen from House of Polynesia!

So I am a sucker for comfort, and nothing says comfortable to me than a loose tank, jeggings and a flowy kimono/cardigan. With cooler weather and Fall approaching I love layering with light fabrics that are a little generous when it comes to fit. I am kind of loving gray, white, black outfit combos lately. I like the modern and simple look, but I always find a way to add color and for an outfit like this my go to is my turquoise colored necklace. Which is a must for me when I need a little bit of color.



Outfit Details

Tank, Cardigan, Necklace | Forever 21
Pants | American Eagle
Sandals | Target






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Sunday 26 October 2014

One Month



Age - one month

Weight - Okay I'm creeped out because I could have left Blondie Boy's update up! She was weighed last week and was 8lb 6oz--the EXACT SAME he was at the same time. Her cheeks are really starting to fill out so I'd suspect she's more.

Height - 19" at least that's what I put on her passport form 

Sleeping habit - If we time it right she's only up once a night, but I go to bed around midnight and am up between 7-8am. Not too shabby since I can go back to sleep when she does since BB is at school.

Eating habits - She feeds roughly every 3-4 hours sometimes less. To say she is a good eater would be an understatement. 

Favorite activity - Pooping or peeing right after you've finished cleaning her tuchus.

Milestones - There really aren't any the first month that I can think of--she has a belly button now does that count?

Firsts - She's had her first bath and multiple sink baths after that (see favorite activity). She also had her first sleepover at Grandma's house and her first road-trip to Edinburgh to renew her brother's passport.

If you like to compare/contrast here is Blondie Boy's 1 month update.

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Monday 20 October 2014

Newborn Essentials

Baby Girl has been here three weeks now and I think it is safe to say there are some newborn essentials I could not live without. Now what I consider essential is most likely different to what baby books say but I know I prefer honest opinions from real people so I thought I'd share what has become part of our every day life these first three weeks:

Shnuggle Moses Basket



Shnuggle is a hypoallergenic and silent modern Moses basket. It is big enough that she'll be able to stay in our room as long as medically suggested but not so large that it inhibits our living space. All of the dressings are cotton and machine washable which means it is easy to clean--great especially since she has spit up and leaked out her nappies a few times! 



The shell is fully ventilated and hygienic so we can feel safe putting her to sleep and since it's not wicker like traditional baskets it can be fully wiped down and sterilised. The stand is also a great height for me as it is high enough that I can easily bend over and get her without straining myself and the dog can't jump up and reach her either.

Cosatto Giggle Pixelate Travel System


Since you have to limit the amount of times you go up and down the stairs after a c-section, baby girl has been sleeping in her Cosatto Giggle Pram downstairs. It is a great height for me bending down and the pram base is large enough for her to sleep comfortably. One of the things I love the most is the pattern on the inside of the pram base; Baby Girl has kept herself occupied staring at the colourful patterns on several occasions. It's an extra feature I'd never have thought of but is so clever.



NotBlondeHusband has been raving about the Hold carseat and base as it is so easy to click her in and out. With Blondie Boy we had a carseat we had to strap in with a seatbelt every time we got in and out of the car so this is so a vast improvement! We keep getting tons of compliments on how bright and fun the pattern is too, again another improvement from the bog standard black seat we had 4 1/2 years ago!

Thurpenny Bits Feeding Pillow



When we came home from the hospital I didn't have any sort of feeding pillows or supports and was sort of stacking various wedge pillows together and well it just wasn't working. Thurpenny Bits Feeding pillow has made such a difference to helping me support Baby Girl and taking pressure off my incision when feeding.  The portable pillow was invented by Mum Melissa Hyatt-Fosbury out of necessity for something supportive and stylish. It can be carried like a bag and ties at the back so it won't slip off. The cover is washable and can be re-used as a toddler bag (if you remove the pillow) once your baby is older.

HM Nursing Tanks



If I'm at home I like to be braless but when you are breastfeeding that is just not an option; my best friend mentioned how she slept/lived in nursing tanks so I had NBH take me to HM to grab some and honestly I never want to wear anything else. They are super comfortable and my feeding convenient. They give me the right about of support without being overly restrictive and are much preferable to bras to sleep in.

Tommee Tippee sangenic Nappy Disposal System


The nappy disposal bin offers anti-bacterial protection and odour control in a uniquely coloured tub. All you do is put in the nappy, twist and it is wrapped and sealed killing 99% of germs and sealing in smells. It makes night-time nappy changes super easy and means we don't have to rush to get nappies out to the outdoor bin. It is so simple and effective I'm not sure why we didn't have one with Blondie Boy.

Volvic Touch of Cherry Water




I'm perpetually thirsty (maybe a breastfeeding thing?) and have become obsessed with Volvic Touch of Cherry water. I will drink normal water from the tap but instead of pop or juice I've just really gotten into flavoured water. I couldn't tell you how many liters I've gone through but the stuff is good.

Vitamix Professional Series 750




In general I tend to follow medical advice but I refuse to take iron pills because of their *ahem* unsavoury side effects. So instead of taking the iron pills I was prescribed for blood loss/anemia I've been supplementing my diet with added iron. We've been having lots of red meat, fortified cereals and most of all green smoothies. The Vitamix seriously makes green smoothies the easiest thing ever. I throw in a handful of ice, some berries, a banana, handful of spinach and a splash of almond milk and it does all the work for me. All the spinach is blitzed down and I end up with a thick frozen smoothie like you'd get from a shop. Best of all it even has a self-cleaning setting so I don't have to worry about clean up either!

Tommee Tippee Breast Pads



Not the most glamorous item but wet patches are even less glamorous. NBH brought these home for me from the hospital and when they ran out we grabbed a supermarket own brand to replace them. The supermarket own brand were smaller, not individually packed and I still leaked out. Literally every time I used them I wound up with wet patches, not nice. I've gotten more of the Tommee Tippee pads and am much happier and drier now. I wouldn't think there would be a difference between generic and name brand breast pads but I was definitely proven wrong!

....and most important 

My husband

I honestly don't know what I'd do without him being home these past three weeks. This has been a totally new experience breastfeeding but he's been amazing and getting up to change her in the middle of the night when I get up to feed her. It makes SUCH a huge difference especially since I'm still stiff and sore bending over. I can't drive still post section so he's been on the grocery runs, taking BB to and from school--not to mention just entertaining the boy in general--making dinner, taking Baby Girl off me so I can grab a shower. Honestly he is by far my most important newborn essential but unfortunately for you can't buy him in any store; I'm a lucky lady.

What newborn products could you not live without?

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Transatlantic Blonde was provided the linked items for review but all opinions, on review or non-review items, are our own. I'm too tired post baby to be anything but truthful!