Great blog

I really enjoy checking in on the babywearing blog- if you are into babywearing, too, check it out! (Click on the title "great blog.")

Note: It seems the above blog has not been updated in a while!! The past posts are good reads, and also check out www.thebabywearer.com for LOTS of babywearing info!

Cute Quiz!

This was from another webgroup I am in (Slightly Crunchy Attachment Parenting in yahoo groups)- a quiz to take to see how "crunchy" you really are... I am "pretty crispy" which sounds about right! (Click on the title "Cute Quiz" to see how you do!)

Ah, nature

We just got back from a trip out to San Diego, CA and visited the zoo while there. It was so fun to see the momma animals with their babies. We were in the monkey area and there was a chimp momma nursing her little one- he would run around and play and then come back to the breast, nurse a little, then run back to play! At Sea World we were given a behind the scenes look at some of the animals there. They keep the momma & baby dolphins out of the public eye while they are nursing so that they have "privacy" ! And, at the Wild Animal Park we saw nursing deer (we took a tour guided train and I was nursing Gray at the same time, too!)

I'm a Mei Tai girl!

Well, I got another baby carrier the other day and think this one is "the one!" I wanted to try this traditional style carrier since I already use the ring slings and a pouch. We're going to San Diego next week and I wanted something that was great for a lot of walking, and this one has two shoulder straps and I have heard that it's very comfy. Well, I love it. Here's the pic right after I got it out of the mailbox (me without makeup and sporting crazy hair, but that's kinda normal!) Before I was done taking photos, Gray was asleep- showing his approval, too! Now I am determined to take a break from buying anymore carriers... altho I have yet to try a wrap! Maybe further down the road!

He's so happy!

With family recently, Gray was so happy and smiley (as usual!) and everyone was commenting on how happy he is, how early he is smiling (earlier than my other boys did) and how he is just the best baby! Then my grandmother gets this scolding look on her face and says "it's because you hold him too much!" .... wha? So would it be better if I didn't hold him often and he was a sad, unhappy baby? I don't really understand! He is a wonderful baby and I love holding him and cherishing his baby-ness... it doesn't last long- believe me I know this!

You Have Your Hands Full!

I hear this ALL the time- from well-meaning folk I am sure. Just days before Christmas I braved the **ack!** mall with baby, and a 3- & 4- yr old... slung the baby & made the other two walk- who wants to maneuver a stroller through THAT crowd? So, we managed just fine, but apparantly people thought I was crazy. AND, the thing is that my boys were well behaved! They listened, didn't run off, stayed right by me, didn't whine or ask for anything! (And hey- I must say this isn't the norm, but I was taking it!) Still, people would stop me to tell me my hands were full (like I didn't know that) and honestly yes, my hands are full so I don't have any time to stop and talk to you stranger about it- I must look after my 3 kids! Oh, and to all who are so curious- YES he can "breathe in that thing!" (the sling... I would never smother my children- especially in public!)

So, what is so great about babywearing anyway? Aside from the convenience (the way I happened upon babywearing in the 1st place!) - the baby loves it. Of course babies love to be held! Well, I would love to be able to rock baby in my La-Z-Boy all day long and do nothing else, but as noted earlier, I also have 3- & 4- yr old boys as well! The sling allows me to get things done and make baby very happy and content at the same time. Sometimes just me rocking him or walking with him just isn't doing the trick if he's having a fussy moment- put on the sling and pop him in and almost instantly and I mean instantly he is content and probably will nod off to sleep very shortly!

I personally have found that the more I wear Gray (my baby), the more I want to wear him. With my first two kids it was like I just held them to feed them or change them only to put them down until they needed something again. I used swings and crib gadgets to occupy or distract them from having ME put them back to sleep or comfort them. This is what I thought I was supposed to do, according to the books and experts. I always had this feeling like I was going to be in trouble if I nursed them to sleep because how in the world would they ever get to sleep on their own one day? What I was doing was neglecting my motherly instinct to nurture and comfort baby at the instant he needed me. I really wanted to nurse him to sleep- and so I should have. I didn't really want him to cry until he fell asleep, so that he slept through the night by 3 months old, but I did, and I regret that today. Yes, I had a baby sleeping through the night very early, but I was also loosening the bond between me & baby more and more. How I wish I had done things differently.

So, now I get my chance. With Gray, I have practiced "listening to my instincts and following baby's cues". It is amazing how I can anticipate his needs without him even having to let out a cry. Having him close, I know him very well. It is the coolest thing to feel that connected to another living being.

And I am happier. I am not sure if any studies have been done on the effects of wearing baby and post partum depression, but I think it may help? It seems to have done a good thing or two for me.

Well, it is time to say goodnight to the old year and welcome to 2006. Bedtime for us... more in the morning.