Sandy's Blah, Blah, Blog

I started Oh Baby! Magazine with my husband during my first pregnancy. My love of writing and my obsession with magazines paired with my husband’s many skills have proven to be a great combination. I'm from Toronto - born and raised - and I've been married for eight years. Since the inception of Oh Baby! I've had two babies, Andreas and Alexandra . What a ride it's been! I’d like to share with you my struggles with trying to find this so-called – and I think unachievable - “balance” I keep reading about… Follow Sandy E on Twitter

It’s amazing what two consecutive nights of uninterrupted sleep can do. I have been through years of sleep deprivation. After two nights of blissful, uninterrupted slumber, I feel totally discombobulated. I am walking around in a haze. I can’t believe that for two consecutive nights my kids have each slept in their own beds without crying and jumping into my bed! Since I’ve been a mom I’ve had major sleep issues and every time we...

Don’t tell me that I can’t take my kids to a restaurant. But please keep this in mind: I don’t really want to take my kids to a restaurant. I love restaurants. I love being able to choose my meal from a menu and having a nice glass of wine, cocktail or just cold, fizzy water. Eating at a restaurant is a big treat for me. I enjoy it. Personally I don’t give a flying fark if I’m at a restaurant and there is a child there when he...

This weekend we went up to my cousin’s cottage as we often do. But this weekend was different. My kids made friends with a brother and sister (Daniel and Jessica about ages 10 and eight) and it all started with a friendly game of Frisbee in the lake. I enjoyed watching them play with their new friends in the water and on the sand. It was so cute to see them all sharing their toys and snacks with each other. On our second day it made me...

If you had asked me before I had children if I was going to teach my kids how to speak Portuguese (I’m fluent) I would have given you a “Hells Yes!” If you had asked my husband if he was going to teach them to speak Greek (he’s fluent) his response would have been the same. In fact we actually had planned on teaching our children how to speak both languages. Fast forward six years and we’re lucky if our kids know more than two words...

I am from plaid tweed couches, from Heinz Ketchup on plain potato chips and lots of books. I am from the gathering place for friends and family. A family home in a neighbourhood with big and beautiful, shady trees. I am from the cherry tree and rose bushes. From the collard greens and the tomato plants. I am from big and loud family dinners and adults telling tales of countries far away. From music and dancing. I am from aunts and close...

My kids are grazers. They like to eat little meals throughout the day. My husband sets up these little ‘mezze’ style meals where he will make a plate for each of them with a variety of foods. Here’s an example of one of the more popular plates: Crackers Cheese Sliced cucumbers Sliced kohlrabi Halved tomatoes Baby carrots Sliced turkey sausage or pepperoni Of course they don’t need a fork to eat this glorious ‘snack’...

I am experiencing some mild to moderate anxiety over an upcoming family road trip. What the heck are we thinking? How could I ever agree to this? How could my husband think that it’s a smart idea to drive to NYC from Toronto (8.5 hours non stop) in the middle of the summer, in my mini van, with both of my kids and my in-laws? Somebody pass the straight jacket now. And send a deck of cards and cigarettes. (People who are institutionalized play...

There has been a bit of a buzz recently about parents who are using strollers for kids who appear to be too big for them. I wouldn’t say that I feel very strongly about this, it’s your kid and you can do whatever you want. If it’s easier for you to put your kid in a stroller – go for it. I do, however, have an opinion. And I don’t think that having an opinion makes me judgmental. Or does it? I’m confused. Anyway, I believe that...

How many times have you been in a huge parking lot trying to find parking when all spots seem to be taken? All spots except for the ones that are five miles away AND the spots reserved for the disabled, expectant moms and parents with babies and small children. We all have lazy days when we want to park right next to the entrance to limit our outdoor walking – but if you’re perfectly healthy, not pregnant and without small children do you...

The fabulous people at Kids CBC invited me to a tweet up last week. I spent the day with some fantastic mom bloggers, mompreneurs and all around inspiring women! One of the most impressive women in the bunch was Ali Eisner – the woman behind Mamma Yamma. She was funny, friendly and so patient. She happily allowed some of us to film personalized messages to our kids from the one and only Mamma Yamma! I have to say that...

So what? A company in Spain went out and manufactured a doll that when held up to a special top worn by the child it will mimic a baby sucking. Why is this a problem? Women have breasts to breastfeed babies. Luckily we live in a society that supposedly allows you to choose whether or not you use your breasts to feed your baby. And you shouldn’t be chastised for whatever decision you make. Sadly we still need to work on this – for both...

My husband was driving my almost six year old son to a party and this is but one of the many conversations they had: Son: Daddy, will I have a girlfriend when I’m older? Daddy: Of course! You’re going to have lots of girlfriends! Son: Do I have to marry my girlfriend? Daddy: No of course not! You can have loads of girlfriends. When you find the right one - after a long time - you can get married. Son: Daddy, do you have a...