Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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5 Mins Read

Chicco’s got you mama {win}

I have an awesome surprise for you in in this post, so keep on reading to the end!

I received this awesome box from Chicco last week and did I strike it lucky with bottles! Check out the Facebook LIVE reveal of what’s in the box here.

Did you know that Chicco has been around for 60 years? They constantly observe children, have dialogues with parents and collaborate with the medical world to censure their products bring only joy in the lives of little ones.

Breast feeding

Look, I am never going to dwell on breast pumps and breastfeeding (you can read here why) but I will mention some of Chicco’s products to help you on your way.

  • Naturally electric breast pump
  • Natural feeling manual breast pump
  • Chicco breast milk container
    The airtight seal helps to preserve breastmilk – but you can also use it to store milk powder in for those on the go days.
  • Soothing thermogel pads
  • Antibacterial breast protection pads
  • Silicone nipple shields – please don’t ask me to explain this one… ever.

Bottle feeding

Now I can talk about stuff I know… We use a bottle similar in shape but with the teat in the middle (and they work great), but after trying the Chicco Natural Feeling Bottle the other night on little miss Lily at bed time I was impressed. She took to the bottle like it was nobody’s business, she didn’t have any more wind than usual and she looked more comfortable. I’ll still use it a few more times to test of course!

Disclaimer: It is up to you to decide between bottle and breastfeeding. However follow the instructions provided to keep bottles sterilized.

Chicco baby bottles

  • These bottles are made in Italy
  • 0% BPA
  • Clinically tested
  • 96% of babies accepted the bottle

Chicco offers both the inclined and regular teats to fit on the bottles, obviously with different flow rates. More excitingly they have glass bottles as well – which of course makes them recyclable and more hygienic. We have one of the glass bottles to try out, but I am petrified of Lexa using her throw arm…

Personally we don’t use bottle warmers as we keep the filtered water in bottles for the day/night and make more bottles as we see them running out, but Chicco does offer a bottle warmer that will fit their bottles.

I liked the looked of the Chicco sterilizer – especially the microwaveable one for travel. The big electronic one… yeah, it might have been a contender for us.

Dummies and more

Dummies, hate it or love it… sometime the only thing that will get baby to settle is to stick one in the pie-hole, seriously. We got Chicco dummies in some of the hospital bags when Lily was born and we still use them. I prefer a transparent dummy, but when my parents are around it is better to have a bright colour so they can find it (just saying).

Chico has a fantastic selection of dummies, dummy clips, teethers, teether bibs and it is always worth shopping around and looking at what is new in the shelves.

Win

Yeah, I know you’ve been waiting for this… if you want to see what you can win check out my Facebook live video then complete the steps on the competition widget.

I have 3 prizes to give away so if you are expecting or a new mom get entering! Here is the link tot the FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions

  • Competition closes midnight 26 February 2019.
  • Prize is sponsored by Chicco and Prima Baby
  • See the Facebook LIVE video for contents of prize.
  • If you comment on the Facebook or Instagram post you should also have followed me on the platform for your entry to be valid.
  • Only completed entries will count.
  • The competition is open to all fans of Goddess, who are Residents of South Africa and over the age of 18.
  • By entering the competition, you are deemed to have read and accepted these terms and conditions. All entry instructions form part of these terms and conditions.
  • If the winner is chosen and there are noted irregularities (i.e. the email address or person does not exist, is not delivered to a person, or is forwarded to a person with a different identity etc.) the winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be drawn.
  • Any entries received after the closing date will be invalid. Goddess accepts no responsibility for any errors of any other kind which may restrict or delay the sending or receipt of an entry, or for delayed or lost entries.
  • If we are unable to contact a prize winner, we reserve the right to pick another.
  • All entries will be examined and the prize shall be awarded to the winner selected at random by Goddess from all eligible participants who have correctly entered the prize draw in accordance with entry instructions. No correspondence will be entered into.
  • The winners will be notified via Facebook and/or Instagram, and the prizes will be issued as soon as possible.
  • The winner has 24 hours to respond after the winner announcement.
  • The prize will be delivered via courier.
  • Prizes are not redeemable for cash.
  • Goddess reserve the right to cancel or change the promotion at any time and will endeavour to give you advance notice of any such change or withdrawal. However, in some cases, advance notice may not be possible.
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Keeping baby’s skin healthy

We’ve been using more of the JOHNSON’S® Top-to-toe Range for just over 2 weeks now and after doing the whole “beauty routine” for our 9 month old daughter we’ve seen an improvement in her skin’s condition.

Previously we’ve only used the Johnson’s top-to-toe baby massage lotion and baby wash.

Baby’s skin problems

In summer her skin was rosy and healthy. We took her outside, she even went to the beach, but then winter rolled in…

Suddenly her cheeks felt dry and looking closely at it, it looked like a tiny corrugated roof – and it was rough to touch. We tried different creams and lotions, some helped a little and others failed miserably.

Then we tried out Johnson’s top-toe-toe baby massage oil literally from head to toe and her cheeks’ condition improved 100% in just under a week.

Now we also use the Johnson’s top-to-toe extra moisturising baby cream – and I even carry a tube in my handbag for my own hands! Plus we now run the humidifier in her room.

Here’s why you should moisturise baby’s skin

Baby’s skin is more sensitive (and delicate) than older kids (and adults). Their skin is also much thinner and requires more hydration to keep it healthy and soft.

A healthy skin will help protect baby against bacteria and infection. Remember, it is a human’s largest organ and it is a natural barrier against external irritants.

When should you moisturise baby’s skin?

  • After baby had a bath
  • Just before bed or even after a nap

As a parent you can only try to do your best – and sometimes it is good enough.

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Teething gel festival!

I thought I would choose a heading that says it is a fun time with a teething baby, but we all know that’s not the truth.

Lexa now has 2 teeth. Right next to eachother. At the bottom. Like a rabbit. We are going through teething gel like a cat with catnip. We use everything from trusty Teejel to Pure Beginnings. They all seem to bring relieve it’s just a matter of grabbing the nearest little tube.

She has really developed and grown so much in the last few weeks.

  • Standing without assistance for a second.
  • Pulling herself up and using everything and anything to walk around a room.
  • She actually has a personality.

The biggest event in her life…

Lexa made it to the sea – and she loved it! The moving water scared her at first but then she was in it. She splashed and giggled, crawled on the beach. She even crawled to a little girl and made a friend (most adorable thing ever).

Anyway that is it for today. Drop a comment and let me know about your first family holiday.

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No more toothless…

Hey, she has 1 tooth! It happened at 7.5 months and she’s been chewing on everything. If it doesn’t move, she gnaws down on it or pulls it over.

Little Lexa now weighs just under 10kg and almost stretches to 80cm. She sits, crawls, races in a walking ring and pulls herself up on anything and anyone. She can also shuffle along as long as she can hold onto something.

We recently took her to visit her grandparents in Pennington and at first she didnt like the beach sand but after 10 minutes she was in the water. The next day we just had to remind her that it was fun and she stayed in the water for 30 minutes and after a change she played on the sand for another hour.

She definitely is a bit of a drama queen, but she sure knows how to twist her daddy around her little pinky.

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2 Mins Read

So, the kid doesn’t like beetroot…

We are attempting to feed the kid freshly-made (pureed) vegetables in all flavours – you know, a balanced diet. Sometimes we also try new tastes in bought foods from Purity.

Today the nanny tried to feed her beetroot. It was all kinds of murder and mayhem. This kid definitely doesn’t like beetroot.

Bedtime

We are trying to get the kid to sleep through the night – because we are tired of feeling like zombies. It has been working sort-of the last week…except for a few snags.

We have a baby monitor, which means any movement or scream and I’m awake. She wakes up a few times during the night and just moans and cries a bit before dozing off again. I have also caught her twice just after midnight having a big, fat jol with whatever she can bash around in her cot.

Crawling

Her crawling skills are improving little by little. If you incentivize her with a toy at the end of the “walk”, she really performs. She also realised that she can lunge the last bit to get to the end sooner.

They really grow up so fast

Babies don’t need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach… it pisses me off! I’ll go over to a little baby and say ‘What are you doing here? You haven’t worked a day in your life!’ Steven Wright

I think babies need a holiday from growing up, teething and driving us up the walls.

We didn’t go to the beach house because the 7 hour drive with 2 cats and a screaming baby sounded like a nightmare. We got the nanny in for most of the weekend, because she is teething and neither one of us are sleeping well…and well, we also need a break.

How was your long weekend?

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10 things that saved the day with baby

When people said you will spend money like water when there is a kid in the mix I laughed. That laugh has been replaced with the realisation that maybe my luxuries to myself may have to be cut a little…

As all people with a diaper wearing person living with them will tell you, it is all about keeping the peace and quiet going so your cats don’t move out and you don’t go deaf. We have bought and discovered a lot of products and really big ticket items to make our lives easier.

  1. Mamaroo from 4Moms
    This thing is the best thing since sliced bread! It has put Lexa right to sleep and rocked her for hours. It replaces manual labour and saves “ye olde muscles”. Not even going to breathe the price, but it was worth every cent of husband’s money.

    View this post on Instagram

    #mamaRoo #babyproduct

    A post shared by Goddess Blog by Susann Deysel (@goddesscoza) on

  2. Doona travel system
    When you want to go on holiday but the station wagon is on loan to a person you hate (now more than ever) – and you need to transport 2 adults, 3 cats and a little person with lots of baggage in a sedan, this thing will save the day.

  3. Bennets
    Around since cavemen roamed the earth, but always a good bet. Funny story, back in 2003 I used to play webmaster for them – they have come a long way since those days.

    View this post on Instagram

    #bennetts #bennettsforbabies

    A post shared by Goddess Blog by Susann Deysel (@goddesscoza) on

  4. Telament
    No alcohol gripe water – because we read labels.

    View this post on Instagram

    #gripewater #telament

    A post shared by Goddess Blog by Susann Deysel (@goddesscoza) on

  5. Johnsons
    This stuff is magic. No tears, leaves little person smelling like a daisy and used from head to toe.

    View this post on Instagram

    #johnsonsbaby #notears

    A post shared by Goddess Blog by Susann Deysel (@goddesscoza) on

  6. Huggies – Gold
    You can say all you want about disposable diapers – but I would not survive this phase without it.
  7. UBBI
    Husband did all the research and decided metal is always better than plastic and UBBI made its way into the diaper girl’s room. That thing keeps the odours in and doesn’t absorb smells either.

    View this post on Instagram

    #ubbi #babyproduct

    A post shared by Goddess Blog by Susann Deysel (@goddesscoza) on

  8. NUK
    Glow in the dark dummies is all the rage in diaper land. Nothing gets me running for the hills more than a pie hole that makes the end of world scenario real. Being able to find a dummy when it “accidentally” gets out of her mouth is priority one.
  9. Lily & Jack bunny
    …but not for the reasons you think! The bunny is cool, really all pink and white and cute but…we use it on the Mamaroo to hold the dummy in place! I have seen Lexa pinch and move the bunny – it seems that she loves the texture 🙂
  10. Tommee Tippee bottles
    We first bough more expensive bottles but the Tommee Tippee bottles work soooo much better.

Come back next week for more secrets from diaper girl’s room.

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Ready, set, wait… for Delivery of Baby

How am I supposed to be homebound for 4 months when all I’m used to is working in a corporate world? That part of 4 months maternity leave scares me the most. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with the baby, but I am also scared to miss out or the person that stands in for me messes up (because that can really happen).

I have made dear husband paint the walls for the baby’s room and he has finally finished that. We still need some bits and bobs, but we are keeping it simple. What we don’t have now we will buy.

I’m just going to say this, the baby already has a vanity with mirror and chair. It was a gift from her nieces that have outgrown their childhood furniture. It is so darn cute!

I also made this bumper for the cot… because I really like this colour and pattern. What do you think?

Cot bumper for baby

Other than that, dear husband is driving me absolutely nuts. His latest is, she cannot wear something if it isn’t pink. Seriously…

On another note, I will be on the hunt again for a surrogate to bring carry the next one for us. Double sigh.

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It goes {…} in the night

This is it – (almost) the 5 month mark until our lives change (again). Some kid will be moving in with us and attempt to monopolise our time and attention.

Husband has started painting the room with Peppermint Beach 5 from Dulux – but still keeping the one dark chocolate wall. The colour is so fresh and beautiful and I’m actually jealous that my room is going to be a sandy brown reminiscent of beautiful soft beach sand.

Design Team Fabrics

We have also done a quick list of things we still need. The worst to come is the pram and car seat – the rest… buy as you go I guess.

About a pram

We looked at those fancy smancy prams that have a cradle thing that you unhook and then plug into a cradle in your car to use as a car seat. The only problem, it only lasts to about 18Kg.

We are definitely looking at buying the big ticket items that can last for almost 2 years. Don’t mind spending the money, but seriously don’t like wasting money.

Questions for you

  1. Do you have any advice on which car seats and prams to avoid or to look at?
  2. Where did you buy your baby stuff from?
  3. What is the 1 or 2 things that you could not have done without? (Skip over the part of what you needed during your pregnancy…)
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Hello from Salt Rock

While on holiday I never keep to my resolutions of blogging (I wonder why?). I start the holiday off with every intention of sticking to blogging, but it just never happens like that.

We’ve been in Salt Rock since the 17th of March and the weather has been great. On my birthday it was overcast and I thought it would be a waste to even go down to the beach, but after eating my birthday cake the sun came through and it just so happened that it was low tide. I had the perfect beach day.

Terror on my birthday

On my birthday, while I was eating cake on the beach in Salt Rock, Belgium was rocked by a terror attack. More than 30 people lost their lives. Innocent people. Before that it was Ankara and Paris. Senseless murders by fanatics.

If you hate the west so much go stay on your little piece of land surrounded by landmines so you can’t get out to get your western goodies and favourites. Seriously.

Shopping for baby

In my mind, if clothes I want to buy for the new arrival is made from what would make my sleeves they should cost as much as I would pay for sleeves – right? How can a little T-shirt cost R300? I’m not the stingiest person in the world, but I really don’t like feeling like I’m being ripped off.

I would also like to know how a pram could cost R6,000? How is that even possible?

Where did you buy your big ticket baby items? Did you buy everything new or some secondhand? I’m considering buying an overlocker and just making everything myself.

Update – week 9 or is it 10?

Since I’m not really involved in the baby process and the surrogate lives extra very far, none of this is really real for me. I have never been pregnant and can’t relate to the surrogate’s complaints of morning sickness or cravings.

The surrogate spent 2 days in hospital due to bleeding – which was scary. So far, all is good again.

 

 

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