Tag: mommyblog

Puppy Essentials List

Back in February we brought our puppy Toby home. And now he’s rapidly approaching 10 months old (how?!) He’s out of the puppy stage and into his rebellious adolescent phase (pray for us and my plants that he constantly tries to rip out of the ground, SOS.) But I thought I would share some of the things we loved this go around with a puppy. It had been over 8 years since we had a puppy in the house and I felt like I barely remembered what was useful this go around.

  • Collagen Chews – These are super long lasting chews. They’ll last for weeks and he consistently works on it when he’s bored. They also have very little to no odor to them so they are great for inside.
  • Xpen – this was an absolute MUST for us. We didn’t use one with Juno but we also didn’t have two small kids. This xpen made puppyhood so much easier – it was a safe, confined space where I knew he could go and relax and not get into trouble. He slept in here at night until he was crate trained. Bonus: I also like how you could change the configuration / shape of it.
  • Roam tags – We got these for both the dogs. You attach these tags to their collar and they have a little QR code someone can scan & all your contact info & dog info pops up! So if your dog gets lost they can be reunited quickly!
  • Treat bag – This treat bag has a magnetic closure so it’s easy to use while walking. I like that it also has a zipper pouch for bags or other things! love this thing!
  • Native Pet – Powdered Pumpkin – if you’ve had a puppy before you know that they have sensitive stomachs. This pumpkin powdered works just as well as canned pumpkin and it’s easy to incorporate into their meals daily to help with digestion!
  • Dog Toy Variety Pack – I was blown away by the quality of these toys. For a puppy novelty can be key. These toys lasted so long even with our adult labrador. All the non stuffed toys are still in play at our house daily! For the price you can not beat this!
  • Long Line – perfect for hikes and just recall training in general. We have a 20ft version as well as a standard 6ft leash. I like that these are waterproof and you can easily wipe them down with a towel or baby wipe especially after a dusty hike.
  • “place” bed -Toby loves his elevated bed or his “place”. When trying to teach your puppy or dog “place” having it be elevated makes it clear to the dog when they are on or off of it, versus a bed that is on the floor and they can hang off of it and the lines can be blurred in their brains about whether or not they’re technically on their bed. I also like that this doesn’t get as hot which has been really nice over the summer.
  • Bully stick holder – – for any other helicopter dog moms (or dads) who are paranoid about dogs swallowing small pieces of bone or bully stick, this thing is for you.

Curious what your must haves for puppies are!

5 Ways to Beat the Heat with a Toddler

It’s officially summer & San Francisco already had it’s first heat wave of the year. Temperatures got up into the 90’s which is about 30 degrees higher than our usual summer temps! Keeping a toddler entertained as well as trying to get them to sleep when it’s 90 degrees in your apartment is no joke. So in the spirit of summer I thought I’d share some ways to beat the heat with a toddler & share some photos from the heat wave & the weekend we spent enjoying the heat at my brother’s house.

  1. Water tables – these are an awesome investment! We got this one for William’s birthday. And it was a serious lifesaver during the heat wave. I highly recommend water tables – they are fairly affordable & provide so much entertainment for toddlers. Even when it’s a little too chilly to be playing in the water William has a great time playing with the table without the water. He loves putting the balls down the track & finding things in the yard that can go in the water table. If you live somewhere remotely warm I’d totally invest in a water table.
  2. Popsicles – pair a Popsicle with a water table and you’ve got yourself one happy toddler, enough said!
  3. Baby wipes in the fridge – talk about a quick & inexpensive way to cool off. This is such an easy trick to make your baby or toddler or even yourself just slightly more comfortable in the heat.
  4. Stroller fan – this is a good gadget to have if you live somewhere that experiences a fair amount of heat. This is perfect for car rides where kiddos don’t always get the best airflow in those hot car seats especially facing backward. You can also clip it onto a stroller.
  5. My final tip for beating the heat is to seek out AC wherever possible. Libraries are a great free place to take a toddler to try to get some reprieve from the heat. Even just an hour wandering around the grocery store or target was a great way to get out of our stifling apartment. So if you have a membership to a museum, a local library you’ve been wanting to check out or if your kids are old enough a movie theater these are all great places to try and escape the summer heat, especially if you’re living somewhere without AC like we are!
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8 Months & Christmas Magic

I figured it’s about time to post Will’s eight month photos, before he hits nine months. oops!

I can’t believe our first Christmas has come & gone. We spent Christmas in California & went up to the foothills to visit my family. It was so nice to spend more than just our usual Friday – Sunday quick trips. It felt like we really got some down time. William got to spend time with his two cousins & his highlights were sitting in his high chair watching his cousins open all their presents & sitting on my parents deck watching Juno chase a ball around the back yard. I can’t believe January is halfway over! I feel like I’m going to blink & William is going to be one! I