A Momtourage Double Header - Part 1

This week's outing was a double header in two ways - it was a double-goodbye to Jen & Mandy as they return to work next week...and to celebrate, we decided to do two outings in one day. I considered us pretty brave!

For Jen & Mandy's last week, we decided to go for lunch at The Table in downtown Oshawa. Mandy and I had our babes with us, but sadly Charlotte had already started phasing into daycare, so Jen was by herself for the day. 

As I worked in downtown Oshawa before I had Andrew, I had been to The Table a few times, but only for take-out. Waiting for my food, I would always stare longingly at the beautiful harvest table in the middle of the restaurant, with it's glass jars of water with mason jar cups. I love the idea of everyone sitting together at one table...in theory. Once we got to the restaurant, an awful thought hit me...I don't think anyone else is going to want to sit with our loud, messy babies. Thankfully, as we were there early (11am) the lunch rush hadn't started yet and the table was almost empty. We even had a visit from the owner, Carol, to visit with the little ones.

Surprisingly, they actually had high chairs for us to use, and we set up with the babies at the end of the table, so even if other diners sat beside us, they wouldn't get A's sticky hands grabbing at their shirts and babbling in his baby zombie voice (no joke, it happened to me in the doctor's office - thankfully the lady he was grabbing loved babies and ended up entertaining him until we got called in).

Here are Mandy and Jen with London and A at the end of our meal...love that big harvest table - wish I had a house big enough to fit a table like that!

Now, I personally love The Table, but it isn't for everyone. Everything at The Table is made from scratch - baked goods, desserts, soups, salads. I love the sandwiches and salads (especially the Salad Trio - you get to try three different kinds!). It's a healthy-eating kinda place...so definitely don't head there if you're craving grease!

Head on over to http://thetablebycarol.ca/ to check them out. Their assortment of soups changes daily, so check their website to see what's being served when you go!

The next part of our day...coming soon!

Cheeky Mommies

Now, this next activity isn't for everyone. Sadly, not everyone in the Momtourage was into it, but personally...I love it. Please read with an open mind, as I have gotten some pretty odd reactions when I tell people what A and I do every Tuesday morning...we go to pole dancing class.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking (and what I have heard already) - is it safe? Don't worry, we don't swing around the pole with the babies underneath, they are playing a safe distance away, always within mommy's view. Isn't it inappropriate to take your son to a class where you are swinging around a pole like a stripper? Nope - he's seeing his mommy happy, active, and feeling great about herself. What's inappropriate about that? Now, I don't know that I would be bringing him when he's five years old, but for now, why not?

Cheeky Girls in Whitby offers Mom & Baby Pole Classes; I started in the beginner class. I thought going into it that it would just kinda be something fun to kill time with Andrew, but it really is a great workout. It starts with some stretching and strengthening exercises, and then you get to the fun stuff - swinging around the pole. 

Honestly mommas, it is SO much fun, and a great workout! Our teacher, Stephanie is fantastic. She is like a personal cheerleader for each and every one of us - even while I'm falling and smashing into the pole. We have enough insecurities as new moms (or experienced moms), we all need someone like her in our corner to tell us that we can do it, and to encourage us to try it again.

I tried to take a couple photos, but as the lighting is dim, they didn't turn out great - but I will share one with you - this is our instructor, Stephanie posing on the pole:

Did you notice something different in the photo from other fitness studios? Because I noticed it as soon as I walked in...there are no mirrors. There is no checking to see how you look on the pole. I find that women as a whole rely so much on checking on how we look and how we carry ourselves, and rarely give ourselves the opportunity to just focus on ourselves. It's refreshing to spend an hour without mirrors, and just focusing on me and what makes me feel good.

From a selfish point of view, pole class also gives me a chance to feel like pre-baby me. I love little A, and I love being a mom, but sometimes I do miss the old me. And pole class lets a little bit of the old wild me out...for an hour a week ;)

Physical activity aside, pole class has also taught me three things:

1) Strippers are seriously ripped. I have a new appreciation for what those ladies do when they go to work. It takes serious stamina and muscle...neither of which I have!

2) I have a little issue with control. My first couple days on the pole I didn't really move much - I was too busy white-knuckling the pole and not sliding down at all!

3) Cheeky Girls is like a secret cult. I had never heard of them until Mandy told me about the class. But one Facebook post after my first class and all the other Cheeky Girls came out of the woodwork! I love being a Cheeky Girl :)

If bringing your baby to class isn't your scene (or if you don't have one), Cheeky also offers lots of classes just for the ladies!

Well, That's it for me tonight. Baby A is fast asleep, and it's my turn now!

If you're interested in dancing and swinging your baby belly away, check out Cheeky Girls, you won't be disappointed - http://cheekygirls.ca/

Bye-bye Momma!

As with everything else in this world, there is a downfall to having a Momtourage. Sadly, I have already discovered what it is...and while it may not come as a shock to everyone else, it was to me: Eventually, moms on maternity leave go back to work.

While I logically knew that at some point we would all be returning to work, I seemed to have blocked it completely from my half-functioning brain. When Ash, the first of the moms to go back to work, announced her last week with us, it completely caught me off guard - I was not ready to lose one of my biggest supports and cheerleaders. 

While I'm sure it was hard for Ash to go back to work, it was sucky for the rest of us - not only do I miss seeing Ash, but I miss seeing her kids! We went from spending at least one day a week with her two daughters (now 1 year and 3 years), to not seeing them at all...and I miss them, especially Princess Ava's witty comments.

Since Ash's return to work, momma Sharon has also left us (albeit for a short time - she will be welcoming Baby #2 in August!!! She's a brave woman!) Soon, Jen and Mandy will be leaving the Momtourage...such a sad time for me :( I truly am going to miss these girls so much. I never thought I would become so close in such a short time, but they have all become close friends of mine. Although we came together over our babies, we have all found that we have mutual interests outside of our children, and not seeing them every week will be difficult for me.

We decided to have a little good-bye party for Ash on her last day with us. We had a potluck lunch, and decided to have a photoshoot with the moms and kids...a little way for us to commemorate an amazing few months together.

Luckily, my friend Shannon is an awesome photographer, so we had her come to Ash's house and do a photoshoot. If you decide to do this with your entourage, make sure your photographer has tons of patience, and have lots of toys on hands to trick smiles out of all those tots for the camera!

Below are a few photos from our shoot:

My little man and I

Jen and sweet Charlotte

The entire Momtourage!

The babes

The photoshoot and lunch was a fun and informal way to spend Ash's last day with us, as well as a sweet keepsake to remember the awesome year we spent together :)

If anyone is interested in Shannon's work, check her out here: https://www.facebook.com/ShannonNicolePhotography?fref=ts