There are three fabulous crafts that I would love to create before Christmas!

1. Mini Wreath Garland (cute little Christmas decor item)

CAMPING with babe TIPS :

1. Bring a play yard.
2. Hammocks are key.
Emma LOVED laying in the hammock with Andrew or I & it gave us some relaxing down time too.
3. Stay close to home.
We were able to call it quits a bit early (as there was a massive heat wave going through all of Ontario). It was important to be no more then an hour from home, so we could make a quick escape if things got rough.
4. Make sure your site has good access to the water & washrooms.
5. Bring a good stroller.
6. Have warm pjs for babe.

My desktop background has always been important to me. This past year I came across the blog Design Love Fest - Bri has a series called Dress Your Tech where she features beautiful wallpapers that are always free to download. Love it. Next time your due for a new desktop background - check it out.



For more links to pretty wallpapers - check out my pinterest board - I like a pretty desktop.

We aren't huge halloween fans here at the Hodgson's, but I couldn't resist putting Emma in this adorable dragon outfit (gifted by Auntie Rita.) Hope you and yours have a fun and safe night. xo

Before Emma turned 4 months old we took her to the beach (more then a dozen times), camping, and flying across the country.

Some would say I am crazy, others "adventurous" but I call it livin' life with my babe. When Emma was born I needed to get out, experience summer and enjoy God's creation. I knew outings would change when we had a baby, but I was determined to make it work and still enjoy time with family and friends.

I've tried to compile some notes and tips on traveling with your babe. I'll have to break it up into three posts, starting with...

BEACH DAYS!!

Emma was 4 weeks old when she had her first trip to the beach. Here are some things I found useful for her many beach trips:

1. Make sure YOU are comfortable.
I wore a maternity suit (with a comfy t-shirt and shorts in the beginning) that I had from doing water yoga when pregnant. The suit made me feel comfortable in my "new body" and covered me up well. I think it is important to feel at ease with yourself before walking into a new adventure with your baby - if your relaxed, they will be relaxed. One of my favourite bloggers, Lindsay at Hello Hue wrote a post on "say no to the frump:: 5+ swimsuits that won't make you miss your teeny bikini this summer." It has great links to some great suits that will make you feel good about being at the beach again.

2. Grab some shade.
When we were first married, Andrew and I purchased a beach shade tent (he is a ginger and I am a marshmallow). We needed protection from the sun. Little did we know how absolutely perfect this tent would be for a baby. Emma would nap under our Coleman Beach Shade the entire time at the beach. Make sure you purchase a tent with UV ray protection like this one. The tent also made a perfect hiding place when I had to nurse Emma on the beach :)

3. Bring a carrier.
My mom or I would wear Emma in a carrier while we set up. This worked perfectly, and would give us more hands to carry our gear down to the beach. We use the Snugli front and back carrier, we love it.

4. Have a buddy with you. (or your cute husband if he is available)
I usually went to the beach with my mom, or sister. Andrew is less fond of the beach, and he was usually working when the waters called my name. Having a "buddy" with me was key. These two LOVED holding Emma if I needed a break. Mostly Emma would just sleep in the tent but if she was ever fussy and I still wanted to get a swim in, these two were willing to hold her as long as I needed.

5. Bring lots of blankets.
To sit on, lay your baby on, wrap your baby up if its chilly, or block the sun.

6. Enjoy it and make memories.
Don't be afraid to take some pictures. We moms shy away from the camera too fast and miss out on cute pictures and fond memories.

Andrew and I both had baby books. Over the years I would go and look through my book and check out the time I was born, who brought me gifts, and how much I weighed. My mom even had a lock of hair from my first hair cut (a little creepy, but also cute). We never imagine how neat these books would be when we had Emma. It was so fun to compare and we could finally relate to what our parents had gone through when we were babes.

So it became an important project for me to make Emma a Baby book. I will admit, it can be tedious, with a needy infant in your living room while trying to cut and paste pictures. Also, I am still twisting Andrew's arm to write in his pieces. But its all worth it when I know how much it will mean to her, to look back on when she gets older.

I hope you and your family have a beautiful Thanksgiving, full of blessings. Xo