Parents in the Capital: Meet Carly

Ottawa has some wonderful bloggers and we are lucky that many of them are Kids in the Capital contributors and readers! We want to share some of our favorite Ottawa parent bloggers on a more regular basis so we are introducing a series of posts called Parents in the Capital. Let's give a warm welcome to Carly!

Tell us about yourself and your family. I'm married to Jeff and we have one son, Jacob, who is four and a half.

What is your favourite activity to do with your kid(s) in Ottawa? Jake loves anything outside, no matter the weather.  We love that about him and can often be found shoveling, making snowmen, sledding, going to the park or nearby splash pads.  We also love The Children's Museum and hanging out at bookstores and libraries.

What is your favourite at home activity to do with your kid(s)? I love doing crafts with Jacob - it's so fun to see his imagination come to life through his creations.  We're also big fans of LEGO and Thomas the Train.

What was the biggest surprise that parenthood has brought into your life? I'm not sure I've been really surprised by a whole lot, but I do love watching Jacob's personality develop.  He's so darn funny and I really enjoy his stories, imaginary siblings (this kid wants a little brother or sister like there's no tomorrow) and creativity.

What parenting tips/advice do you wish you'd known when you first became a parent? I wish someone had told me about the overwhelming anxiety that hits shortly after birth, thanks to the lack of sleep and hormonal changes.  That really caught me off guard and I hated that feeling.  I also had trouble breast feeding initially because my milk didn't come in and Jake was born early and wouldn't stay awake long enough to get in a solid feed.  I ended up working with a lactation consultant who completely turned things around for us and I've always been grateful for her advice and wisdom.

Tell us about your blog and how you discovered blogging. I honestly can't remember how I discovered blogging, but I initially started because Jacob was a bit sick as an infant with various tummy issues and he never slept more than 45 minutes at a stretch . . . for 11 months straight.  I was exhausted and felt like his infancy was passing me by.  I started blogging to help me remember all the amazing good in the midst of all the struggles.  It was so easy to overlook all the amazing moments in the face of all the doctor visits, tests, medical procedures and lack of sleep.  My blog helped me stay sane during the first year of his life, and ensured I made a point of focusing on the positive.

What do you love best about being a parent in Ottawa? I just love Ottawa in general.  I've lived here all my life, though I travelled extensively throughout Canada as a young adult.  Ottawa has always felt like home and I'm so grateful to live in a (for the most part) child-friendly city.  There are so many options for parents, no matter your interests and a never-ending list of things to do with your kids.

Thanks Carly!