Back and Forth

It's been decided. Lil' L and I will be returning to Ecuador to visit Daddy in November.  We will be there for 3 months at least, maybe 4. This time, however, will be the first time that we will be down in South America during their summer. I thought it was well enough hot during their winter months, I can't imagine how hot it is going to be this next time that we are there. Luckily for those of us up north who are heading into winter, all the summer baby clothes are on sale, which means a shopping spree for Lil' L , in order to be well equipped for life on the beach.  Packing is the hard part, especially with how quickly Lil' L is changing. Last time we went I brought way too many things with me that I never ended up using, and found myself wishing that I had brought things that I didn't.
This time around I am bringing cloth diapers, which I will have to wash by hand, so I've been experimenting with what type of diaper is the easiest to wash, and the fastest to dry.  I have decided on using Indian cotton prefolds in GroVia shells, and bringing my own "Tiny Bubbles" laundry detergent. Last time, I resorted to using disposables, but found myself regretting that decision as they were incredibly expensive, and irritated Lil' L's cute little bum.  Aside from the diaper stash, the only other things I am bringing are short sleeved onesies, baby sunscreen, hats, a baby wrap, toys and sippy cups.
The travel time from Vancouver, BC to Quito, Ecuador is approximately 16 hours, which was no problem last time we went to visit, as Lil' L was only 2 months old and literally slept the whole way. This time though..... I don't know what I'm going to do! This little guy is always moving non- stop, and has decided that he doesn't need to sleep during the day anymore, so the thought of 16 hours of travel, by myself, with a crazy baby, is a little bit daunting to me. I would really appreciate the help from anybody who can give me some tips for travelling long distance with a 7 month old.
So now I'm off to start making lists... after all, I only have a month and half to get ready... chao!

First things first...Let me introduce myself!

I am the person that said that they were NEVER going to have children. Simply put, it was just not something that I felt was necessary in my life, and I spent a lot of time convincing everybody around me that I was not ever going to be a mother. Well, it turns out that I was wrong (much to the delight of my parents). I am now a very proud, happy mommy to the most gorgeous baby boy in the world - Lil ' L.

I never planned to be a mommy, so as you can imagine,  life got very REAL very quickly. 

I am a mother that supports "natural" parenting methods, meaning that I practice breastfeeding, co sleeping, cloth diapering and baby wearing. We are also trying out part time EC (elimination communication) as well as baby sign language. I believe in raising my son in a healthy environment. We use eco-friendly products, eat organic food, and support our local markets whenever possible. I try my best to follow the 3 R's in hopes that Lil' L will have the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful world.

Being half Canadian and half Ecuadorian, Lil' L is bilingual. He babbles in both English and Spanish, and absolutely LOVES his salsa music. While we are here in Canada I am raising Lil' L as a single mother.  I'm not going to lie, it is a challenge, however I believe that it will only help me to become a more patient and aware parent.  Lil' L's father would love to help us out, but sadly has been denied a visitor's permit to Canada, therefore, we are forced to wait through the lengthy Canadian immigration process. Hopefully if all goes well, he will be able to come join us in our home within a year and a half. Until then, Lil' L and I must travel back and forth between Canada and Ecuador every few months. What an adventure!Through this blog I hope to share my mommy experiences with you. You will find information on the daily ups and downs of  raising Lil' L as a single mom, trying to teach him two languages (so he can talk to his daddy), our immigration journey, and our travels to and from Ecuador. You will also find information on various aspects of natural parenting. I hope you enjoy!

Follow Lil' L and I as we take on REAL life!

Erin