babies

My Open Letter to the Daughter I Gave Away

May 20, 2018 by Kathryn 7 Comments

Darling Daughter,

It’s hard for me to believe that you turned eighteen just a few months ago. It seems like just yesterday that I was eighteen myself, and navigating the difficult journey that took me from child to adult. I remember how confusing the teenage years can be. How they can make you question yourself, wonder what your future holds, dwell on every little misstep you take.

I know that you’ve had a childhood filled with joy and security, but I worry that you might also be feeling a little more lost than other teenagers right now, and possibly wondering how you came to have the parents and the life that you do.

I know your parents explained to you that you were adopted as soon as you were old enough to understand what that meant. I’m sure they also told you that they love you fully and completely and every bit as much as any parents love their child. I hope you were able to understand how true their words were, and how much of a blessing you were to their lives.

But I know that there’s one question you’ll probably ask eventually, if you haven’t already, and it’s one that your parents can’t answer. The question is, “why?” Why did your “real” mother, the woman that gave birth to you, give you away to somebody else? I don’t know if you’ve ever voiced that question, but I’m sure it’s haunted your thoughts at times.

Since the day I gave birth to you, I couldn’t help but notice how many television shows and movies showcased emotional, touching renditions of an adopted child meeting her birth mother for the first time. That question, the why, was always the first one asked. And the answers, always the same, had me scoffing in disgust every time.

“I was young. I didn’t know how to take care of a baby. I didn’t have anyone to help me. I was all alone.” These are true statements for many women that make the choice I made, and a lot of them were true for me, but I can assure you that none are the reason a mother gives her baby away.

The answer to that “why,” the answer I believe is almost every birth mother’s answer to the question, is this: I cared more about what was best for you than I did about what was best for me. I had to decide between giving you the most promising life and future I possibly could…or keeping you with me. And I loved you so much that I was willing to lose a piece of my heart for a lifetime, if it meant that you would have a life of happiness and prosperity and opportunity.

In this age of social media, I’ve been able to learn a bit more about you than you might know. I’ve seen ample proof over the years that the decision I made was the right one. I knew it when your parents sent me some of their favourite photos from your first few years of life, and I know it now, having seen you as a smiling and confident teenager. I’m sure your life will continue to be full of opportunity and I’m sure that you’ll accomplish anything you set your mind to.

But through it all, if you ever start to wonder, if you ever start to worry, if you ever start to feel like you aren’t good enough…remember this. Every single day since you were born, I have loved you. And for every single day to come in the future, I will keep loving you.

Letting somebody else take you out of my arms was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I would do it again a thousand times to ensure your happiness. And you will always have the piece of my heart that I gave you the day you were born. From the beginning, and for always, I would do anything for you.

Love Always,

Your Mother

It’s a Boy! We’re Welcoming a New Addition to Our Family

April 8, 2017 by Kathryn 22 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of e.p.t.. All opinions are 100% mine.

When my youngest son was weaned and potty-trained, I fully thought that I was done having children. My two boys filled my days completely, and after six solid years of constantly either carrying a baby or breastfeeding, my body was ready for a break. Of course, I also thought I was done with relationships, and then I met a man that was so perfect for me that he really did feel like a missing piece of myself I’d always been searching for. And when I married that man last October, I knew that all my old plans had changed more than I could have ever guessed they would.

My husband and I decided to start trying for a baby as soon as we returned from our honeymoon in Ireland. With my 36^th birthday quickly approaching, I didn’t want to wait too long! We had family visiting in that first official month of “trying for a baby,” which meant that we weren’t…well…"trying" all that much! And I never had a moment of feeling like my body had changed in any way. But just in case, I picked up an e.p.t. pregnancy test, available at Walmarts across the United States and select other retailers, a few days before my scheduled time of the month. I didn’t expect to see anything, so one can imagine my surprise when the test showed that unmistakable blue cross almost immediately!

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Find the Best Gear for Your Baby at the Best Buy Baby Sale-Giveaway

February 21, 2017 by Kathryn 156 Comments

One of the things that always amazes me about baby products is how many innovations are still being made when it comes to baby care. In just the few years since my boys were babies, products are now safer, more comfortable, more versatile and more effective when it comes to raising a happy baby. And Best Buy Canada has done an amazing job of finding those top products and offering them to parents at a great price!

Even better, from right now until March 9, Best Buy Canada is making its great selection of baby products even more appealing during the Best Buy Baby Sale! If you’ve been longing to stock up on baby gear for a new little one, this is the time to do it! As I glanced through the sale items, I couldn’t help but think about what I might have bought if these products had been available when my boys were babies. These are my top pics for must-haves for any new moms!

Graco Maddox 3-in-1 Crib

If there’s one thing that instantly makes a piece of baby gear more appealing to me, it’s versatility. And this crib boasts plenty! Its convertible design ensures that when baby outgrows the crib in its initial configuration, it can be converted into a toddler bed or a daybed so that one purchase will provide years of use for your little one! [Read more…]

How To Save Money When You Create a Child’s Nursery

February 10, 2017 by Kathryn 2 Comments

Welcoming a new baby into your home is a special time. So chances are that you want to try to create the best nursery ever for your bundle of joy. While this is completely understandable, it’s not financially achievable for many people. After all, the decorations and furniture in a nursery soon become obsolete as a child grows. And spending too much initially means less to spend on clothing, books, toys and more as the months go by.

The good news is that you can still create a dreamy nursery for your baby without spending an excessive amount of money. Here are a few tips on how to do that!

Be Realistic About What You Can Spend

One of the biggest factors that can cause overspending when designing a nursery is not having a set budget beforehand. It’s a bad idea to just jump online or head to the store and start making purchases. Sit down and work out how much money you can realistically afford to spend on creating the nursery. [Read more…]

Kids Will Have Sweet Dreams with the Cloud b Charley the Chameleon-Giveaway

November 9, 2016 by Kathryn 150 Comments

If there’s one thing that makes nighttime a little more relaxing and enjoyable for a small child, it’s having a good friend nearby. A favourite cuddly stuffed toy, a well-worn baby blanket…there are all kinds of nighttime companions that kids turn to when the lights go out. And for over twenty years, Cloud b has been making some of the most innovative and interactive nighttime friends for babies and big kids alike.

My oldest son had both a Twilight Sea Turtle and a Mimicking Monkey from Cloud b that he slept with for years. He loved the pattern of stars the turtle projected on his ceiling, but he was even more fond of the peaceful nighttime noises of his monkey, and especially loved it when I would record a little message for him to listen to as he settled down to sleep. Years later, the innovations from Cloud b continue to improve with new products including Storytime Huxley, Torsten the Giant Turtle and Charley the Chameleon.

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Get Kids Excited About Reading with the Marmalade Books Subscription Box-Giveaway

October 18, 2016 by Kathryn 70 Comments

If there’s one thing that almost every one of my friends and family members know about me, it’s that I love to read. And because of that, I’m a big believer in the importance of literacy. I’ve been reading to my boys every night since they were babies and both of them love to read on their own as well. That’s why I love the concept behind Marmalade Books.

This brand new Canadian-based company offers a monthly subscription box of age-appropriate books chosen for their quality and entertainment value to help build a generation of readers. Available in customized boxes for three different reading levels, there’s a Marmalade Books box for kids of all ages! Recently I received one of the Middle Grade Novel boxes to review and I couldn’t wait to see what it was like.

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The EquiptBaby Diaper Bag Makes Parenting Easier with Features Moms Love-Giveaway

July 21, 2016 by Kathryn 70 Comments

Taking care of a baby is exhausting, whether you’re a first time mother or you already have a house full of children. And if there’s one item in a mother’s arsenal that can make her day either much easier or much harder, it’s the diaper bag. A good one keeps items organized, holds all the essentials and is easy to use and carry. An awkward one may require constant rummaging, be too small to be useful or be so big that it’s impossible to carry comfortably.

Then there’s the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag. And when I say that it’s in a class all its own, I mean it! This bag takes the must-haves from the best diaper bags, eliminates annoyances from the worst ones and then tops off its design with innovative features I have never seen on a diaper bag before, yet loved at first glance. I recently received the EquiptBaby Santa Rosa Diaper Bag so that I could see its differences for myself and I was impressed as soon as I pulled it out of the package.

One of the highlights of the diaper bag for me? The hard bottom of the bag! It’s such a simple addition to a regular diaper bag, yet it makes such a big difference in the ease of use. Instead of having to worry about a full diaper bag tipping over and spilling contents as a mom juggles the bag and the baby, the flat plastic bottom ensures that the diaper bag sits upright securely for easy access to the contents.

But that’s just the start of what makes the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag such a great choice for parents. Multiple pockets in the interior lets a busy mom keep bottles and snacks separate from clothes and diapers…and even leaves enough room for mom essentials like sunglasses and a wallet too! Best of all, one of those organized interior pockets is insulated, so bottles and snacks stay cool all day. When my boys got old enough to drink milk and juice, keeping it cold and fresh was a constant challenge. This diaper bag makes it easy and convenient to bring refreshments out of the house!

EquiptBaby also offers an ingenious Bassinet and I think I loved it even more than the diaper bag. This handy little bassinet is big enough for a baby up to about nine months of age and protects little ones from the sun and insects while outside…yet it folds up to be no bigger than a Frisbee for easy packing! I loved the idea of being able to have a comfortable spot for Baby to rest anytime and anywhere without having to lug around heavy baby gear.

Want to see the EquiptBaby difference for yourself? You’re in luck! One very lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader is going to win their very own EquiptBaby Diaper Bag, a $70 value! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about what feature of the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag you love most.

From the expandable sides of this diaper bag that let it hold extra gear for a long day or road trip, to the stylish colour and shape of the bag that lets a parent still feel trendy while carrying it, there’s just so much to love about the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag. Find a retailer near you or shop online at EquiptBaby.com and see how much easier your day can be when you have a great diaper bag to carry!

EquiptBaby giveaway

The Diono Radian RXT Convertible Booster is the Only Car Seat You’ll Ever Need

April 14, 2016 by Kathryn 15 Comments

When it comes to a new baby, there are lots of fun little purchases to make, from cute onesies to first toys. But there are also those bigger purchases that take more thought and research in order to make the absolute best choice for baby. And one of the most important purchases any new parent will ever make is the all-important car seat.

When my boys were first born, I knew that I’d need a great car seat. Living in a rural Saskatchewan town meant that I had to do lots of driving just to get basic essentials like groceries. And since my boys would be spending a fair bit of time in a car seat, I wanted one that was versatile, comfortable for my children and, above all else, safe.

I only wish that the Diono Radian RXT Convertible Booster had been around back then! This car seat combines all the essentials parents want in a car seat so that everyone can enjoy the drive in style. My favourite feature of the car seat is definitely its versatility. With the ability to safely secure children from five to 120 pounds, it’s the only car seat purchase a family will ever need to make! [Read more…]