Now, I often say that my memory is photographic, but what I mean is that if there is a picture of it, I can pull the memory.

I’ll never forget one summer, while away at overnight camp, I used 17 disposable cameras. I currently have boxes, hard-drives and over 30 000 photos on my phone and there is nothing I like better than going through them and looking back on the memories and moments.

The process of documentation has been been a critical part of my life and as I’ve gotten older I find myself investing in creative ways to capture moments.

At our wedding, I invested in an amazing photographer from Mango Studios, an inspiring cinematographer from Elle & Be Films and an illustrator Danielle Final, who live-painted the ceremony, reception and photography session. The combination of these three methods of documentation have kept the memory of this special day vivid for me.

Since Sterling’s arrival, my world has exploded with pictures, but I’m not complaining. I find myself often picking a month, from the past 17 and reviewing the special moments I captured. With Trevor and I both photographers ( 2Boo Studio) we are always with a camera on-hand.

When Sterling was first born we invested and took photos at about 6 weeks with the insanely talented Scarlett O’Neill. With these shots, we’ve printed giant poster size wall art and created hardcover books for our families to remember this quick moment in Sterling’s life.

So during our recent trip to Miami, we decided to invest in memories and capture this moment in time, Sterling at one. So we began to arrange for our second session of family photos. I found Emily Prada, a Miami local known for her breathtaking wedding photography, who uses nature to highlight her subjects via Instagram and fell in love with her aesthetic. Because she shoots locally, she had lots of recommendations for locations and we picked John U. Lloyd Beach State Park as it’s filled numerous scenic backdrops. Check out some of the photo session below.

I cannot wait to print these photos out and put them on display. I’ve already gifted a set of family ones to my grandparents for their hospitality and love during our trip to Miami.

If you are a Toronto local and looking to capture memories with your children, check out my photography business 2Boo Studio. I’d love to create special moments for you that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

TWO YEARS AGO. How is that possible?

Sterling is 16 months now, taking about 10-15 steps on his own and ready to explore new things each day. He and I spend our days together and are currently exploring options of childcare, but in the meantime, Trevor and I have prioritized him having a growing library of books, toys, tools and crafts to engage and stimulate his developing mind.

So when buybuy BABY reached out to share their amazing assortment of indoor, outdoor, creative, and educational (STEM) toys and activities from our favourite brands (at every budget) I jumped at the opportunity to spoil Sterling. Although this post is sponsored by buybuy BABY all opinions are 100% my own.

Having Sterling born so early in the year (January 4^th), I find his developmental stages change with the season. As we approach spring, he’s all about moving and being outside, which is convenient because I am as well. The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Sports Car has definitely been a winner as the weather has been warming up. We’ve gone cruising around our neighbourhood thanks to the push handle allowing me to have full control. Sterling absolutely loves playing with this stylish car in our home too, and practices getting in and out. I love that this toy can also grow with him as there is a removable floor to give him control once he’s ready.

We also picked up the Happy Trails Walk and Ride-On Giraffe to encourage movement around our home. I love to watch Sterling’s development, coordination and balance while pushing and scooting on this adorable wooden toy. Sterling is currently mastering backing up and navigating around Taco.

As a designer myself, sparking Sterling’s interests in the different types of art is one of my favourite parts of parenting. He’s been drawn to music since day one, probably because I walked around singing every day of his life and my entire pregnancy.

The Hey! Play! Acoustic Toy Guitar has been fun for the whole family to play with, Trevor “tuned” it and I’ve been walking around playing everything from The Beatles to Baby Shark. Sterling likes to pick the cords while hitting the base to a beat. Instruments as toys, introduced at an early age will hopefully ignite a life-long passion for music and the preforming arts. 

As Trevor and I are photographers, our collection of cameras is pretty big and growing. Knowing that Sterling will grow up around cameras, we started his collection of toy versions pretty early. Again, hoping to spark interest.

I love the nostalgic feeling of this Fisher Price Classics Changeable Disc Camera, that is an updated version of the 1968 original. So far Sterling has only figured out the pressing of the button, and has yet to discover the adorable pictures that can be seen through the viewfinder. The camera comes with three discs, which are filled with images from animals to nursery rhymes to stories.

We also picked up the Hey! Play! Montessori Wooden Math Game, which teaches STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) basics. With wooden pegs and colour tiles and stacking rings, the game teaches children to count, sort and stack. This is another toy that will continue to grow with Sterling and so far, he’s at the stage where he’s arbitrarily stacking the rings and sorting them across the pegs. 

Probably Sterling’s favourite and most used item we picked up from buybuy BABY was his new Sweet Seats Shark Chair. His face lit up the first time he sat down in it. He can usually be found lounging in it while flipping through his books, cuddling with a stuffed animal or snacking on Cheerios. I think he really likes having a spot just him.

Over these next few months as we move into the warmer weather of spring and summer, I can’t wait to see how much more Sterling learns and develops. These toys and activities from buybuy BABY should ignite his interests, creativity and thirst for discovery. Each day as he takes his tiny steps forward, it feels like leaps and bounds as he discovers the world around him.

At the end of last month, our family escaped the never-ending, shitty winter weather, to beautiful Miami for two weeks. And I’ve got to tell you, it was probably one of the healthiest decisions we’ve made as a family in a long time.

Winters are hard for everyone, but I think it’s especially hard for those who work from home or spend their days raising little ones. Between the cold and winter storms, being trapped inside for months can feel isolating, so this escape was very much needed. The weather for each of the days we were there was 27 degrees and sunny.

We split our trip into two sections, the first 5 days we stayed at the beach in a newly built hotel and then for the next 10 we were with my grandparents.

Last year, Sterling and I came down (I shared about my trip with a 7 week old, traveling alone, here) but as my grandparents weren’t there, I knew this trip would be much more special. I also thought it was really magical that the ages of the people on this trip are Sterling: 1, Trevor and I: 31, my grandparents: 91. 1, 31, 91. A truly special trip.

Flights
We planned our flights around nap-times and found great success with Sterling. Our flight to Florida departed at around 6pm, and although Sterling didn’t sleep on the 3 hour flight he was easy and calm due to the late hour. The minute we landed he fell asleep in our ErgoBaby until we picked up our rental car. On the way home, we arrived at the airport at 10am for our 1pm flight, and Sterling made some friends with the people around us, and passed out on top of his dad until we landed.

Hotel
We spent the first 5 nights about a 20 minute drive away from my grandparent’s place in Aventura, at the newly built Costa Hollywood Beach Resort. We decided on this resort for a few reasons:
• their proximity to the beach and boardwalk
• A full kitchen. As Sterling goes in and out of picky stages with food, preparing and having essentials on-hand is key
• A separated living space and bedroom. Sterling is a great sleeper but goes to bed around 8pm, so having a space for us to be in was key

The location was truly amazing. A 1 minute walk to the beach where you could spend your days on the touristy but family-friendly Hollywood Boardwalk which is lined with restaurants, ice cream shops and little stores. On the Friday and Saturday nights, most of the restaurants had live music and the streets were filled with people.

The hotel staff were friendly and knowledgeable about local restaurants as well as the area. Our room was great, very modern and sleek. I did a room tour and it’s saved to my Miami 2019 Highlight on Instagram. They also had a small breakfast available each morning, which was great because croissants are key for Sterling and coffee is mandatory for this mama and both were delicious.

Food
The first few days Sterling had a hard time adjusting to the break of routine around meal time. So we focused on simple meals and invested in an Ikea highchair so he could sit properly with us during family meals, and almost immediately he started eating better.

We didn’t really go out to eat much so unfortunately we didn’t hit many of the spots on our must-eat list, but rather ate where it was convenient. Feel free to DM me on IG or leave a comment if you want more details of the spots we did go to.

For Sterling, we brought a bunch of his favourite food pouches PC Organic Banana Kiwi Strained Baby Food and once we got to my grandparent’s we made his regular smoothies for meal times, which consist of blueberries, bananas, peanut, nut or seed butter, yoghurt and whatever else we have on hand, like spinach or strawberries.

Overall, traveling with a baby (almost toddler) is never going to be easy, but being flexible with your schedule and rules can allow for a painless trip. I really enjoyed the extended time-off, typically vacations are one-jammed-pack-week of sight-seeing and activities, but this trip to Miami for 15 days, meant that we could keep each day light and enjoyable.

We leave on our first family vacation in one week and I cannot wait to escape. I typically can handle the cold temperatures fairly well (1, 2, 3,) and feel confident driving in the snow (I’ve always invested in the best winter tires) but now, with Sterling, it’s harder to prioritize leaving the house when conditions are bad. Meaning we’ve been home bound for a while over the last few weeks. So I’m looking forward to spending time outside while showing my son one of my favourite cities and spending time with my grandparents.

But first, there are a lot of planning to do for this vacation, and my number one plan for success is giving myself the most amount of time to do every task, especially on travel days.

Sterling and I traveled to Miami last year, when he was a few weeks old around the same time, but he was a newborn and only the essentials were necessary to bring along. This time he has a pretty good, yet flexible, routine. Lately, he’s become more picky with food, but he definitely has his favourites so I can plan and make sure I’m prepared.

I’ve already started pack, like 3 weeks out. I started with Sterling, checking out this spring wardrobe I’ve been building for a while now. I picked up a few shorts, bathing suits and new shoes which will give us more than enough for him, plus I’m sure I’ll be hitting up a Target upon arrival.

I also began trying on my summer stuff and didn’t love most of what I have. It’s been about a year and a half since I’ve bought non-pregnancy clothes and the few pieces I did buy this summer are probably the ones coming. So I also picked up a few things that I’m excited to wear and show you.

So, until next week when #theNegins escape to Miami, I’ll be hibernating, making lists and packing while trying to get over this cold.

Puffer: Lacoste, Sweater: Zara, Pants: from my grandmother, Boots: Uggs (old but similar), Glasses: C/O Clearly

My Birth Story

Most blog posts and my social media content involved Sterling, I mean how could it not. I’ve fallen completely in love with this sweet and funny boy.

Our Son Sterling
(Photography by Scarlet O’Neill)

But it was a very different year of blogging for me, doing product reviews and sharing what I learned and what worked for this growing boy.

Infant Top 10 List

Good Enough to Eat

Feeding My Baby

When I did shoot, I tried my best and feel confident, but it wasn’t a year where I felt my best. I struggled with my health; recovering from both pregnancy and injury, back-to-back. So when my confidence was at its lowest, I pushed myself to face fears. This year I shot basically naked and allowed others to take control of my image. I quickly realized that shooting my own content for the past 6 years, meant I’ve always had the final say of which pictures were release or shared. Giving up that up wasn’t easy, but I’m learning to enjoy the process of releasing that control.

2018 easy. campaign shoot
(Photography by Jacqueline Ashton)

Junior Foxes SS18 Campaign
(Photography by Nicole Lewis)

Junior Foxes FW18 Campaign
(Photography by Nicole Lewis)

I also continued to decorate the house (#NeginNest) and shared my favourite room yet.

Sterling’s Nursery

Another post I have coming up is one about my goals for 2019. It will be another year of changes and transitions and I’m excited to get started on this exciting chapter. Leave a comment and let me know if there is anything you’d like to see on the blog, as I change things up.

The number one topic I get asked about since becoming a mother is sleep. How many hours do I get? How many times does Sterling wake up? Naps? With so many parents struggling with lack of sleep, it makes sense that everyone is so curious about how we are doing.

Trevor and I have been very lucky, Sterling is a great sleeper (so far) napping throughout the day and only waking up a few times overnight. The midnight wake ups may be few but they still cause us to walk around pretty dazed, especially on the bad nights. So when Fisher Price reached out for Sterling to try their Soothing Motions Bassinet, we jumped at the opportunity to improve our routine. Although this post is sponsored by Fisher Price all opinions are 100% my own.

Loaded with features like nature sounds, music, a nightlight and projection light that displays stars on the ceiling, this bassinet has it all. The projector is also removable which is ideal for travel or use as a table top soother. It’s easy to assemble and takes up little space, making it perfect for beside my bed, allowing for easy feedings during the night when needed.

My favourite feature of the Soothing Motions Bassinet is the way that the bassinet sits in the stand allowing it to move with Sterling’s movements and the calming vibrations that help lull him back to sleep. The mesh sides are also great for visibility and for allowing air to flow through, ensuring he doesn’t overheat.

It also has a spot underneath ideal for storing your diaper bags, books or in our case Taco, who loves to stay close to Sterling ensuring he’s safe all night.

For those who are in the baby planning stage, I would be adding the Fisher Price Soothing Motions Bassinet to your wish list. #RegisterForSleep today and get a good night’s rest, once your baby comes.

If you are interested in working together in please contact Krista at Shine Influencers (krista@shineinfluencers.com).

Ever since I was little, I’ve been visiting Miami to enjoy the sun, sand and shopping. It’s always felt like a second home for me. This year would be a very different trip for me, instead of visiting my grandparents, I’d be visiting my parents and instead of bringing a friend or Trevor, I’d be bringing my 7 week old son.

On the balcony. Sterling wearing Carter’s. Barbara wearing Universal Thread from Target. 

The thought of traveling with a newborn was stressful, but once I got his papers together (passport and letter for Trevor stating I could travel with him – which is 100% needed when crossing the border) I got excited to show and experience my favourite place with him. Miami for many is an amazing party city, but for me it’s always been a place for relaxation and rejuvenation. This year with Sterling on hand, I planned to take it even slower for our 10 day trip.

The Flights
I did a lot of research for best practices when flying with an infant. The best tips I learned was to feed upon take off and landing, as the swallowing process helps with the pressure changes. If feeding wasn’t possible then pacifiers could help to avoid popped ears.

I also decided that because I was travelling alone it would be best to wear him using my Solly Wrap and by the time we took off, he was sleeping. My infant wrap (which I love) was actually amazing for both the travel days and on the longer days exploring the city.

At The Miami Design District. Sterling in Solly Baby. Barbara wearing Farm Rio from Anthropologie

The Meals

We visited some of my favourite restaurants that I’ve been dining at each year, like Mo’s Bagels & Deli – which is like the most classic Jewish deli with unbelievable smoked salmon (they call it nova) and amazing black and white cookies, The Original Pancake House – which has the best chocolate chip pancakes, and Joe’s Stone Crab, the go-to spot in Miami for stone crab.

The Days

At The Miami Design District. Sterling wearing Carter’s. Barbara wearing Farm Rio from Anthropologie

We visited our usual spots like the Aventura Mall and Lincoln Road, two amazing destinations for shopping, with the latter having amazing restaurants and a great late night atmosphere.  We also explored the breathtaking Miami Design District and the inspiring Wynwood Walls, a community covered in stunning graffiti and street art filled with culture, cafes and galleries.

At Wynwood Walls. Barbara wearing Farm Rio from Anthropologie

Though most of our days were spent relaxing by the pool and taking in the beautiful weather.

At the pool. Sterling wearing hat and bathing suit from Babies R Us. Barbara wearing (old) Joe Fresh, Glasses Kam Dhillon from Clearly.

The Gear
I must say that one of the most important things for traveling with a newborn is ensuring you bring the appropriate gear. The key items for me and Sterling were my infant wrap, our Maxi-Cosi car seat, our Dock A Tot (as mentioned in a previous post) and our ValcoBaby Stroller.

The Snap Ultra stroller was used everyday providing Sterling not only a smooth ride but also protection from the sun with its large breathable canopy. The lightweight stroller fully reclines providing Sterling the perfect place to snooze during the pool days and easily folds down and to take with us in our rental car to explore the city. The large basket underneath was the perfect place to hold our parcels when shopping.

At the pool. Barbara wearing (old) Mara Hoffman, Glasses Kam Dhillon from Clearly, Shoes: (old) Loeffler Randall.

Have you traveled with an infant? What were your tips and tricks? I cannot wait for our next trip together!

Photography by Gary & Cynthia Solomon
I received products compliments of and/or in collaboration with ValcoBaby Canada, but all opinions are 100% my own. If you are interested in working together in please contact me (barbara.ann.solomon@gmail.com) or Krista at Shine Influencers (krista@shineinfluencers.com

The Dock A Tot is a lightweight docking station that is handmade in Europe and created as a solution for a more comfortable and supportive sleeping frame for infants and children.

Made from 100% cotton and materials that will not harbour heat, allowing the best possible micro-climate and breathability. Dock A Tot is also Oeko-tex certified and passes the standards for healthy textiles which means it is free of harmful substances.

The cover, which is available in tons of adorable prints and patterns, is also machine washable, which is amazing, as I’ve learned how messy babies can be. I have the Bananas For You print and love how on-trend (and gender neutral) it is.

We’ve found it perfect for lounging, playing, chilling, resting and snuggling and lately we’ve been using as part of his supervised tummy time. By placing Sterling with the round bumper under his chest and armpits, he can strengthen his neck and has began to reach for colourful things in front of him. Sterling also sleeps securely for hours (only on his back) allowing me to work, cook and clean the house. The snug fit of the Dock A Tot is to resemble the womb, comforting him to fall and remain asleep.

We also love how portable and lightweight it is. When planning a day out to visit family and friends, we’ve brought the Dock A Tot with us to ensure Sterling has a comfortable spot to lounge and nap. We kept the packaging and cardboard it came in to ensure it stays clean and help keep its shape during the transporting. Last week, our Dock A Tot joined Sterling and I in Miami, fitting perfectly in my luggage and was the perfect place to sleep and to move throughout the condo for lounging.

We have the Deluxe + which is meant for 0-8 months and cannot wait to get the Grand for Sterling when he’s 9-36 months. I have and will continue to recommend it to excepting families, as I can’t imagine our home without it during the last 2 months.

I received products compliments of and/or in collaboration with Dock A Tot, but all opinions are 100% my own. If you are interested in working together in please contact me (barbara.ann.solomon@gmail.com) or Krista at Shine Influencers (krista@shineinfluencers.com).

Photography by the amazing Scarlet O’Neill during our family shoot.
Fox outfit: So’Dorable, Swaddle blanket: Aden and Anais Silky Soft Swaddle in Sahara

It’s been a month since my son, Sterling Emerson surprised us 2 weeks earlier than expected. In those final weeks of my pregnancy, I had a lot of plans in the works, from appointments, meetings to blog posts. So when labour started for me, I sat there in the hospital sending out emails notifying everyone to expect a delay.

My due date was January 18th and during the month of December I was in a lot of pain, finding it difficult to move especially in the evening and overnight. It was January 4th at midnight and Trevor and I were watching one of the late night talk shows, when he had fallen asleep. I was unable to get off the couch without his help at this point, so I woke him up so we could make our way to bed. Upon standing up, my water broke. Shocked, Trevor and I agreed that I should shower as he finished packing our bags, prepared snacks, loaded the car and took care of Monkey and Taco before heading to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital around 2 am and checked in with the maternity ward. I was told to relax and try to nap in the assessment room or go for a walk around the hospital and check in with the nurse every hour.

By 9:30 am they moved me into my birthing suite, where my amazing nurse Louise explained to me that I was only 1 cm dilated and they were going to hook me up to an IV and give me Oxytocin which would stimulate the uterine muscles giving me more intense contraction.

By 2 pm, I got to 3 cm and it was time for the epidural. From there, thankfully, things moved along much quicker and within the next hour and a half I had gotten to 8 cm.  For me the epidural was crucial, the contractions had gotten so intense and I was beyond exhausted. With the help of the pain relieving drug I was able to nap and regain my strength for the next phase of labour.

Just after 4 pm our families had arrived and Louise told me that we were almost ready to start pushing. With continuous encouragement from Trevor, I pushed for 15 minutes and at 4:53 pm, 2 minutes before sundown, on the coldest day of the year, our son was born. Sterling weighed 6.9 lbs and was absolutely perfect, those first few hours with him are ones I’ll never forget.

I am so grateful for the amazing nursing staff at Trillium Health Partners, who took care of every worry, anxiety and complication that arose during my labour.

Photography by Trevor Negin