Valentine's Day with a New Baby

Hello Nelly Belliers!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, and this being our first one with our new bundle of joy, I thought I would share some tips and thoughts on how to make the day special, romantic, and all that jazz. Obviously, if you can find a babysitter then definitely go ahead and plan a romantic date for two; but if you're like most of us, the babysitters have plans of their own.

Post below and let me know what you are doing for Valentine's Day and don't forget to message or tweet me ( @TheNellyBellie ) and let me know if you did any of my #NellyBellieVDayTips ! Let the romance begin!

Valentine's Day - 15 Minutes is all you Need!

For those of you who don't have a lot of time to focus on your significant other, I really think it's important to at least do one thing that's special and one hundred percent focused on them. This includes anything that has nothing to do with nappies, bottles, or funny baby talk. 

Your task before the big day is to set aside at least fifteen minutes to do something special for the love of your life. Here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

• Make your significant other a special personalised Valentine's Day card. Save yourself at least five dollars (these days closer to ten dollars), and really think about all the things you want to say to your special someone. It's easy to run to the store, but talking from the heart is priceless! You could also include some personalised coupons inside the card. For example, 'this entitles you to one free romantic massage', or 'this entitles you to an extra boys (or girls) nights out', etc.
• Write a poem or song for your heart of hearts. Don't freak out if you're not a singer or if you didn't pass poetry, it really is the thought that counts. If nothing else you both will have a good laugh, but most of all it will be unforgettable.
• Frame a special photograph of the two of you and don't forget to write on the back why this moment was so special. Yes you could easily post a picture of you both on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other social media platform, but having something tangible that you can both look at forever holds much more meaning. Plus the special note on the back will be stamped in time.

Valentine's Day - 30 Minutes or More!

If you can manage to squeeze out more time before the big day, then the world is your oyster! You could plan a family outing, book a reservation at your favourite restaurant, or you could do something more personalised such as:

• Planning a special homemade themed dinner for your loved one. Sometimes it's definitely easier to stay at home on Valentine's Day when you have kids, but why not make it a bit more unique than an average night. Pick a theme (this could be a location around the world that you have been to together, or an activity or place that is special to you both). Once you've chosen your theme all you have to do is come up with creative ways to bring your theme to life. For example, if your special spot is New Zealand, put up photographs of your travels together, light some candles, and cook a delicious lamb meal for your partner. Put on a play list of music that reminds you of your travels, and reminisce over a bottle of Villa Maria about your time together there. If your kids aren't cooperating as planned, include them on the adventure and make it a fun family night.
• Making a scrapbook. Who doesn't love a good scrapbook? If you have the time to put one together then expect some tears of joy this Valentine's Day! Making something personalised for your special someone is not only fun, but is a great conversation piece! You will spend hours talking about all of your life adventures, and one day you will be able to show your children (or possibly even that night if they are still up)! This gift will last a life time!

Valentine's Day - Funny Gift Ideas

If you are looking for something unique and funny (who doesn't love a good laugh) to give to your partner, then here are some great options:

1. Tie Breaker Coins - Click here to see them!. MADE is an amazing website. They have so many cool and unique gift ideas, and they ship to Canada and most places around the world. I would definitely check them out!
2. A Sperm Egg Fryer - Check it out - click here!. Ok this is slightly disturbing, but quite hilarious at the same time. Front and Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and offers tons and tons of great gift ideas. They have everything from Potty Putter's (who doesn't want to have fun on the toilet? click here!) to a Cake Samurai Knife (this would go along great with a Valentine's Day cake - click here!). They also ship world wide.
3. I always like to show some love for New Zealand (click here to see why), so my final o for awesome gift idea website is Mr Vintage T-Shirts. They have everything from a Burger Men's Ankle Sock (what is this you ask? click here!), to funny, cool, and one of a kind apparel (check out this t-shirt). They also ship world wide and have options for men, women, and even kids!

Valentine's Day - What are we up to?

With all of my tips and ideas, I thought I should let you know what we are up to for Valentine's Day. The only reason I know is because I guessed and when I got it right Chris' face gave it all away (haha). I am very excited.

Chris is taking me for a special dinner at one of the local ski mountains. You have to take a gondola to reach the restaurant, and the view from the restaurant looks spectacular (I have done a search on Google). They are offering a special Valentine's Day five course dinner, and it is rated five stars, so it should be absolutely delicious! Ella will be joining us, but by that time she will be stuffed full of milk and will likely sleep the night away in her car seat. If not, she will enjoy the view with us.

Chris has also planned for us to go to the Okanagan for a night. It's one of my favourite places in the world, and Chris hasn't been there yet, so we are very excited. Ella probably won't remember going there when she's older, but I know she will like the change of scenery.

I will be also doing something special and personalised for Chris (possibly from the list above) but I can't share that yet, in case he reads this post!

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"I've been in love with the same woman for forty-one years. If my wife finds out, she'll kill me." ~ Henny Youngman

0 to 3 Months - Life as a New Mum!

Hello Nelly Belliers!

I'm sorry for not posting before now, but as some of you may know life changes when you're a new mum. Time?... What is that word? :) All of a sudden 3 months have vanished.  Is there a black hole in our house that I don't know about? Is someone playing a prank on me and has secretly changed all of our calendars to February?

My baby girl is now twice the size she started out as! She has started laughing (possibly the cutest thing on this planet) and she has started to grab things (mostly owls, fish, and other cute creatures hanging from her bouncy chair)..... and me... I feel like I have accomplished a lot of 'The Handy Guide to being a New Mum' tasks. I have recently started wearing jeans again (I only allow myself to wear leggings 4 times a week now - yes you can applaud if you like), and I am happy to report that I am 100 percent confident in leaving the house on my own now with my precious nugget. In fact, if there was a class I would call myself a master at it (not to brag of course). Ella and I have a good routine going now, and I have figured out her variety of looks, from "give me food" to "put me down for a nap now woman", and of course the "shit tsunami" look (that one is a little easier as it is always accompanied by a lovely odour).

I wouldn't trade these 3+ months for ANYTHING. I love Ella so much it hurts and I have even admitted to missing her when I'm sleeping (don't judge). I think I said this on my "Baby" page, but it's so true that the love you experience for your child is unexplainable. You can't put into words. It's amazing, stupendous, lovely, and all the other wonderful words that you can think of! If you are about to have a baby, or you are thinking of having kids (or even just one haha), it's so worth it! Just do it (obviously if you are about to have one, this comment does not apply....  you are well on your way! :) ).

Ella Louise - Our Experience from 0 to 3 Months

For all you mums who are having sleepless nights, or who have constant crying babies, you may want to skip this section. Also, I promised that my blog would be a place of honesty, so I'm going to be honest about my thoughts. I'm not trying to upset anyone, but this is a place for me to speak and voice my opinions. If I'm not honest and true to myself, then what's the point in me having this blog at all?

The short of it is that Ella is a 1 in a bazamillion (wow, a new word perhaps?) baby. She not only sleeps through the night, but she has now for at least a month and a half. How did we do it? We had her sleeping in her own bassinet (which we put in her crib) from almost the very beginning, and I truly believe that's key to a great sleeper. A wise woman once said to me 'start how you want it to end'.

Ella is also very chill and calm. She only cries for purpose (i.e. I need food, I need sleep, etc), and we can take her pretty much anywhere. I think the second week after I gave birth, we took her out to a noisy restaurant. I have two thoughts on this. First off, I really think that the earlier your children are exposed to all types of places and noise, the easier it will be. In fact, Ella seems to love being out and about and sleeps like a baby (no pun intended) through crazy amounts of noise. My second comment on going out with babies and kids is that I don't believe in 'child friendly establishments'. We need to be more like Europeans and take our kids anywhere and everywhere. Now if you're thinking "what about the children who misbehave, and make it crap for everyone else", then I would say this. Children need tools, boundaries, and rules. My mum had 3 kids, and she could literally take us anywhere. She put in the hard work from day one and it showed. If you can't take your child somewhere, then there is usually a good reason... I'm not trying to be rude, but that's just how I feel.

All in all these have been three wonderful months. We have visited with lots of friends, made new friends, travelled on the plane back to Ontario for Christmas (Ella was a gem), experienced our first family 'pass around the flu' session, gone on some hardcore mummy stroller workout sessions, and witnessed Ella growing and changing every day.

The Outside World - Our Experience from 0 to 3 Months

As a new mum expect a lot of "advice" and sometimes a lot of negativity. Some advice will be great (such as the tips and tricks your best friend gives you), but honestly about 90 percent you should just let go in one ear and out the other. Do what's best for YOU and YOUR FAMILY, and always listen to your gut. If your baby is sleeping great like Ella, expect a lot of 'oh you're second one is going to be a nightmare' comments. Even the man working at the grocery store will have something "fun" to say. I've learnt to paste on a fake smile and move on.

A Dad's Point of View - From 0 to 3 Months

Five words. Just keep on keeping on.

Be prepared to love like you've never loved before.

I would also like to add my point of view of Chris as a dad. He is the best dad Ella could ever wish for, and he is truly my partner in crime. I now realise how important it is to be with the right person when you decide to have kids, and I didn't just find the right person, I found the best. If you are with someone and thinking of having kids, make sure you ask the tough questions, and really be true to yourself. We've all had that those gut feelings, or even those red flags waving in our faces saying to run as fast as you can (I can speak from experience), but sometimes we ignore what we know deep down isn't right. Trust me, being with the wrong person on your own, and being with the wrong person and having a baby with them is a whole new ballgame. Pick someone your son or daughter would be proud to call dad, and it may sound cheesy but make sure he's your best friend. You will be going on the craziest ride of your life together, and having someone who you can lean on and laugh with through it all makes for a much smoother ride!

What's Coming Up?

Stay tuned for some upcoming blogs about my birth experience, having a new baby and a puppy (Nelly is still technically a puppy), my most useful baby products and some hopefully helpful reviews. If you have anything else you would like me to talk about, or if you have any questions, leave me a message below or tweet me at @TheNellyBellie ! I'd love to hear from you!

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"When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to hear '27 months.' 'He's two' will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place." ~ George Carlin