The Happy Hippie Homemaker

New & Improved Boba Baby/Toddler Carrier!

2012-01-05T17:40:00.000-08:00

I've had quite a few people approach me recently about my Boba baby carrier, and since Boba recently released the 3G, I figured it might be time for another little post about why I love my Boba!

First, in case you missed it, check out my review and comparison of the Boba 2G vs. the Ergo. The Cliff Notes version is this: both are great carriers, but they're shaped a little differently. They both will fit babies from 15 lbs (7 lbs with an Ergo insert and with the Boba 3G) to 45 lbs. I find the Boba the most comfortable, but I would suggest you try on both if you can to see which fits you and your little one best. I can comfortably wear my 30 lb, 3 year old on my front or back in this carrier, and have been wearing my baby in it since she was about 3 months old. In fact, this carrier is so comfortable and supportive that I once wore my 3 month old on my front in a stretchy wrap and my 3 year old on my back in the Boba 2G while dancing in a flash mob!(You can watch the video here.)

At the end of October, Boba released its 3G carrier and it has some awesome new features. One of the coolest new features is the ability for the Boba to adjust to fit a newborn (7lbs or bigger)! With the Ergo, you have to buy an infant insert to make it safe for use with babies under 15 lbs. Personally, I think the most comfortable type of carrier for mom and newborn is a stretchy wrap, but I know some people can't get the hang of wraps, so this would be a great alternative. I only used baby wraps with my first, but I'm so glad I got a Boba... my hubby (like most men I know) couldn't be bothered with a wrap, but he LOVES our Boba!

Some of the other cool features include strap holders for any shoulder bags, THREE zipper pockets, and new & improved foot-straps. (The Boba 2G also has footstraps, but they were made of velcro instead of snaps.)

The only feature missing from the Boba that some other carriers have is the ability to carry your baby in a hip-carry or forward-facing position. While I personally don't find a hip carry to be very comfortable for very long, I know some people love it. The Ergo does allow for a hip carry and the Beco Gemini allows for both forward-facing and hip carries. It should be noted that some babywearing advocates caution against forward-facing positions.

No matter which type of carrier you choose, the important thing is that you WEAR YOUR BABY! Not only does it help you to have your hands free and keep your baby content, I think the greatest benefit is how it helps you to bond with your baby!

If you want a high-quality, versatile baby/toddler carrier, I definitely recommend the Boba. I can't wait to get my hands on one of the new 3G carriers, but first I need to sell both my 2G's. So if you want a gently-used Boba in good condition, I have the grey carrier pictured above and also the brown one pictured below.

Sorry, it's not the best pic of the carrier,
but it's the only one I could quickly find!

I've used the grey one for about a year and the brown one for about 6 months. Also, the brown one is organic. If you're interested, make me an offer! But if you'd rather buy a new 3G, I won't blame ya ;o)

25% off Ergo carriers and accessories, 25% off Melissa & Doug toys, 40% off Sleepy Wraps, and 50% off Boba 2G for Small Business Saturday!

2011-11-25T15:54:00.001-08:00

So did anyone stay up late, waiting in line to get any great Black Friday deals? I thought about it for about half a second. My hubby tried to brave the crowds, but when he drove up to Target and saw the insane amount of people waiting in line, he decided to come back to our toasty warm house instead!

I haven't done much Christmas shopping yet, but I plan to do a lot of shopping tomorrow on Small Business Saturday. One sale that I'm super excited about is at One Lucky Mama.

When I decided I wanted to use cloth diapers with my second baby, all my friends from La Leche League told me I needed to go see Julie at One Lucky Mama (formerly Little For Now). Julie was so sweet and took the time to explain the pros and cons of different diapers, and answered all the questions I had.

I went back to see her a couple weeks ago to get a baby shower gift and I was blown away by her selection of Melissa & Doug toys! When she told me that they were all going to be 25% off until Christmas (in store), I knew where I'd be buying all my Christmas toys!

In addition to the great deal on Melissa & Doug toys, here are some of the other great deals happening in store tomorrow...

25% off Ergo carriers and accessories (backpacks, weather covers, etc.)
25% off swaddling blankets, skin care, and many other items
50% off Boba 2G carrier
40% off Sleepy Wraps
20% off Moby Wraps
10% off TummyTub and stool, training pants, cloth diapers, handmade diaper bags, and aprons.

For those of you not in the Salt Lake valley, OneLuckyMama.com will have all Melissa & Doug toys on sale 25% off and all baby carriers (including the ERGO!) 10 % off until Monday, November 28th.

Happy shopping!!

Finding family balance

2011-11-17T13:58:00.001-08:00

As some of you may have noticed, I've taken a bit of a break from blogging over the past couple months. I've been trying hard to blog regularly over the past year, and I felt like I was really on a roll during July and August, but over the past couple months I've had to put blogging on the back burner while I attempted to find balance in my life.

I've learned the hard way that it is quite a juggling act to be the kind of parent I want to be, and the kind of wife and partner I want to be, and some how manage to take care of all the other stuff that needs to be done like cleaning toilets, grocery shopping, and the dreaded laundry! Unfortunately, I have dropped the ball a lot over the past couple of years and it has caused quite a strain on our family. I have been striving so intently to meet my childrens' needs that I was often neglecting my husband's needs and my own.

I imagine that I'm not the first attached parent who has focused so much attention on caring for her children, that taking time for herself and her spouse has fallen to the bottom of the priority list. I imagine that most people struggle to find family balance... to try to meet everyone's needs, including his or her own. I always had good intentions of going on dates or going to the spa (I can't tell you how many unused Groupons I have for restaurants, massages, and facials!) but somehow those things never ended up happening.

Thankfully my sister gave me this great book a couple of months ago and it really helped me to reevaluate my priorities. (Please don't automatically stop reading when you see who the author is ;o)

I realize this isn't the typical book recommendation you would expect to receive from an Attachment Parenting blog. To be honest, I'm not a fan of Dr. Laura. I don't agree with her point of view on many things (I doubt I would agree with much of her parenting advice), but despite her extreme over-generalizations of men's and women's personality traits and roles in life, I did learn a lot from this book. I'm embarrassed to admit that at thirty-something years old, and five years into marriage, I was pretty clueless about the few basic things that men need to be happy. I realized that I had gone in to hyper-mom mode over the past few years and had been neglecting my husband and my marriage.

At the same time, I realized that I had kind of been neglecting myself a bit too. Don't get me wrong, I feel very fortunate to so thoroughly enjoy being with my children that I really don't ever feel the need to "get away". I guess that's why it was so hard for me to see that not taking time for myself was actually hurting me and my family. It was hard for me, hard for my girls, and hard for my husband when I was away, so I felt like it made everyone's life easier if I just always had at least one of the girls with me at all times. I felt selfish when I thought of doing things alone, knowing my girls would be sad and my hubby would be stressed if I left.

Turns out that everyone actually suffers if I don't take a little time to myself. Over the past couple of months I have realized that when I take a couple hours a week to do something for myself, by myself, I feel less drained and am able to give more. I've also seen how much closer my husband and his girls have become, and how much more confident of a father he seems to be. But the best part is how much fun my hubby and I have had going out on DATES, and how much closer we have become!

So how do you find balance in your family? What do you do to try to ensure everyone's needs are met? (Is that even really possible??) I'd love to hear some perspective from my readers!

Babywearing Class today RESCHEDULED!

2011-10-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

The person who was going to host the babywearing class today has a sick kiddo, so it is being rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22nd. I'll post more details as I get them...

FREE Utah Babywearing Class

2011-09-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hey friends! Sorry for my disappearance for the past month... I was on a roll, blogging up a storm in August, but for the past month or so the thought of blogging gave me serious anxiety. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know about an awesome event happening tomorrow...

Aubrey of Utah Valley Hypnobabies is hosting a free babywearing class. This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in babywearing to learn about babywearing safety, and to try out different types of baby carriers. It will also be a fun event for experienced babywearers to be able to share their tips and tricks. I'm planning on going, and it would be great to see some of you too. If you'd like to attend, please go here to RSVP or contact me via Facebook to get more info.

Also, if you're interested in my two favorite types of baby carriers, check out my post about how to make a baby wrap and my review of the Boba vs. the Ergo (two of the most popular soft-structured baby carriers on the market).

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing Flash Mob!

2011-08-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a Babywearing Flash Mob at the downtown library. I wore Emi Lou in a Sleepy Wrap on the front and Gigi in a Boba on the back, while shakin' it to the Black Eyed Peas "Let's Get It Started". (I'm super bummed that you can't hear the music, but other than that I think this video is super cool!)

How Involving My Kid Saves My Sanity!

2011-08-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the August Carnival of Natural Parenting: Creating With Kids
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared how they make messes and masterpieces with children. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

One thing I've learned as a mother of a toddler (who's now almost a preschooler!), it can be near impossible to get anything done if she's not occupied or sleeping! So I figure I have two choices: find something for her to do that will keep her entertained and occupied while I complete my task, or involve her in what I'm doing.

True, the task will probably take a little longer to complete if the little one is involved, but I'll probably have fewer interruptions than if she's not. True, there may be more mess to clean up when we're done, but she'd probably be off in another room making a mess if she weren't working with me.

Of course the greatest benefit of involving your kids in your projects is the opportunity to bond with them and teach them. You can teach math skills, like matching and sorting when assembling furniture and folding laundry.

One of our favorite activities to do together is baking. I think this, in itself, is an important skill for children to learn, but it also gives parents the opportunity to teach children math (counting, fractions, addition, multiplication, etc.) I almost always modify recipes (doubling the yield or reducing the fat or sugar content), so I'm always doing math when I'm baking! At this point, learning fractions and multiplication are a little advanced for my little one, but I hope it's something she learns naturally and easily. For now, we're just working on counting and addition!

Here's one of our favorite recipes... Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup canola oil or 1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 cups quick oats
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375.
Beat together butter, oil, and sugars until creamy.
Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
Add baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and flour; beat well.
Stir in oats and raisins; mix well. (I usually stir in half of the oats and raisins, then stir in the rest to make sure all the oats and raisins get well distributed.).
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes.
Cool for 1 - 2 minutes on baking sheet, then move to wire rack

Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Family Draw Time Art Show — Kate Wicker shares art (and inspiration!) from her family's cherished tradition of family draw time.
The Rules of Creativity: Learning to Create with the "Non-Creative" — Zoe at Give an Earthly shares how she learned to accept her "non-creative" child and claims that anyone, child or adult, can be creative given the right handling and environment.
Creating With Kids: 4 Ways That Work For Us — See how Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings nurtures creativity with her kids through craft projects, outdoor creative play, celebrating the creative process, and setting up "little spaces of beauty."
Creating memories, not things — Mrs. Green from Little Green Blog reflects on life with a ten year old and how 'creating together' has evolved from 'things' to memories.
The Gift of Creation — It may be hot, but Kellie at Our Mindful Life is already thinking about winter.
Hidden Talents — Sylvia at MaMammalia describes how providing the opportunity for creativity sometimes means learning to look for hidden talents in unusual places.
Creating Joy — CatholicMommy at Working to be Worthy shares how she and her one year-old son create joy for their community.
How to do Crafts with Kids — Gaby from Tmuffin guest posts at Natural Parents Network and describes how to keep things simple when doing crafts with kids for magical (easy-to-clean, and tantrum-free) results.
Sugar & Spice & Baking on the Kitchen Floor — Carrie at Love Notes Mama enjoys making a mess in the kitchen with her daughter.
Young Scientist Makes Purple Potion — Hannah at Wild Parenting loves being a lab assistant for the young scientist in her life.
Making a butterfly house — Lauren at Hobo Mama demonstrates the proper way to build a wooden butterfly house with a preschooler.
Nurturing Creativity — Amyables at Toddler In Tow shares the enjoyment she feels in nurturing the creativity of her children.
Home School Music - Sparking A New Generation Of Musicians — Based on her musical background, Chante at My Natural Motherhood Journey talks about how she creates with and teaches music to her children.
Creating (im)perfectly Together — Mudpiemama shares some of the highlights of a summer spent building everything from ships to hoops but most of a lesson on letting go of perfection.
Family Soccer Kick Around — When her children wanted to play soccer, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children helped organize something that would work for her family.
Creating Memories Together on Skype — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now tells how you can create memories online with adult children or anyone who lives in another city or country.
We'll always have Halloween: Creating costumes for kids — Jessica Claire at Crunchy-Chewy Mama is not the craftiest mom on the block, but she does make a mean homemade Halloween costume.
Let's Make Juice! — Wendylori at High Needs Attachment shares about the benefits of juicing with kids, as well as a quick recipe.
Everything's Better When It's Homemade — Amanda at Let's Take the Metro praises the art of homemade goods.
Creating the Opportunity for Art — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction shares how her family has created an environment conducive to art.
10 Easy and Functional Crafts Preschoolers Can Do with Minimal Assistance — Dionna at Code Name: Mama offers ten easy crafts preschoolers can do while sitting near parents — but they don't need a lot of parental help. Added bonus: all of these ten ideas double as something functional (gifts, decor, educational).
Creating with Kids: Singing Together — Ana at Pandamoly details the important role music takes in her household and provides a quick (and easy!) tutorial for creating fun songs to sing together!
Create This — jessica at instead of institutions considers different aspects of creativity including those without an end product.
Make Your Own Pocket Bib — A tutorial from Amy at Anktangle on how to make two simple and quick bibs to keep your little one clean at the table.
Creating Together in the Kitchen — Despite not feeling "crafty," Momma Jorje finds a way to create and connect with her toddler.
An Artist-Mama's Perspective — In this post, Shannon at The Artful Mama discusses the differences between her choice of artistic outlet and her son's, and how they embrace those differences together.
Heart of the Home — Jona at Life, Intertwined shares some highlights of cooking with kids.
Getting creative with kids — Isil at Smiling like Sunshine shares how much she enjoys watching her daughter getting creative.
Creating with Children - The Nature/Seasonal Table — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama celebrates the rhythm of the natural world with her toddler through the creation of a seasonal nature table.
How Involving My Kid Saves My Sanity — The Happy Hippie Homemaker explains how involving her toddler in projects allows her to get more done, while providing valuable opportunities to teach and to bond (added bonus: amazing oatmeal raisin cookie recipe!).
In the Kitchen with Kids — Cooking with Real and Pretend Food — Terri from Child of the Nature Isle engages her kids in the kitchen with culinary creations of both real and pretend food.

It must be a sign...

2011-08-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

I was just upstairs changing my baby's diaper, thinking "I need to order a couple more Thirsties Duo Wraps in the next size up."

I'm so lucky because my friend loaned me this diaper cover and I LOVE it! Since it's a two-size adjustable size diaper, it fits even small babies great! And I love that has leg gussetts to help prevent leaks!

So I came downstairs and got on facebook while I was nursing my girls, and what did I see? The second announcement on my FB newsfeed was a message from Thirsties saying that they're giving away a starter kit of 2-Thirsties Duo Wraps, 2-Duo Hemp Prefolds, & 2-Stay Dry Duo Inserts at this weeks "Thirsties Thursday Giveaway"!! How awesome is that?! I really hope I win. I'd love to get my hands on a couple of these babies...

How to Discreetly Nurse a Newborn in a Wrap

2011-08-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

Since I'm an avid "couponer", my shopping trips tend to be hours long. I almost always have my darling daughters with me when I shop and almost always end up needing to nurse. Rather than struggling to find somewhere to sit and nurse with a cart full of stuff, I just nurse as I go. It's really quite simple, and I doubt anyone even notices. (Unless, of course, they hear the slurping of my noisy nursers!)

Supporting and positioning a newborn is much different from nursing a toddler. With a toddler, you simply need to loosen the wrap or the straps of your carrier so that the toddler sits lower and is at nipple level. Generally toddlers can then find the goods and stay latched on, without any support.

It took me a week or so to figure it out how to properly position and support little Emi Lou, and I wanted to share a video of what we do. I do need to make one clarification before you watch the video though... when I say that small newborns "don't need a lot of support," I mean they don't need a lot of support FROM THE WRAP. I know small newborns are extremely wobbly and need a lot of support and help getting (and staying) latched, but since they don't typically weigh much, they don't need much support from the wrap. The older and bigger your baby gets, the more support you will need from the wrap! (I hope that makes sense!)

Anyway, enjoy the video and let me know if you have any questions...

I’m celebrating World Breastfeeding Week with Natural Parents Network!
You can, too — link up your breastfeeding posts from August 1-7 in the linky below, and enjoy reading, commenting on, and sharing the posts collected here and on Natural Parents Network.

(Visit NPN for the code to place on your blog.)

Human Milk 4 Human Babies!

2011-08-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

Since it's World Breastfeeding Week, I thought this would be the perfect time to write about a new project I'm involved with: Human Milk 4 Human Babies.

All human babies deserve human milk. It's naturally best for human babies. Unfortunately, some women are unable to breastfeed. Though there are several milk banks around the country, the milk is expensive to purchase (upwards of $100 per day) and generally reserved for babies that are premature and/or very ill. Consequently, many mothers turn to formula to feed their babies.

The mission of Human Milk 4 Human Babies (HM4HB) is "to promote the nourishment of babies and children around the world with human milk." Using the popular social networking site, facebook, the group helps to connect families in need of milk with mothers that have a surplus. Currently there are over 130 HM4HB community pages (representing 52 countries) with 20,000 community page members. The group estimates that "through our pages, hundreds of babies in need receive breastmilk every single day."

Of course, many people may question the safety of milksharing. HM4HB operates on the principle of informed consent. On their website they state "we trust, honour, and value the autonomy of families and we assert they are capable of weighing the benefits and risks of milksharing in order to make choices that are best for them. We hold the space for them and protect their right to do what is normal, healthy, and ecological." On their FAQ page, HM4HB suggests several things to consider when screening a donor, and recipients can ask for donors to take blood tests or other health screenings.

True, there are risks to informal milk sharing, but there are also risks to formula and risks of not breastfeeding. One of the best articles I have read on the subject is "Risks of Informal Breastmilk Sharing versus Formula Feeding" on the blog PhD in Parenting. The article touches on the fact that when you give babies formula, you are accepting the risks that babies are more suceptible to bacteria and disease, babies have a higher likelihood to have ear infections, respiratory tract infections, asthma, childhood lukemia, and diabetes, among other health problems. Both shared breastmilk and formula are at risk for being contaminated, however breastmilk can be flash heated to kill bacteria and HIV. (Flash heating is how I've always reheated frozen breastmilk anyway.)

The World Health Organization has stated:

For those few health situations where infants cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choice of the best alternative – expressed breast milk from an infant’s own mother, breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a breast-milk substitute fed with a cup, which is a safer method than a feeding bottle and teat – depends on individual circumstances.

Notice that a "breast-milk substitute" (e.g. formula) is LAST in the priority list for alternatives to breastfeeding.

Personally, I'm not sure why the concept of a wet-nurse is so taboo in our society. I'd be willing to do it, but I doubt anyone I know would take me up on the offer. I'm sure it's much easier and more convenient to use formula than to find a breastmilk donor, but I'm so glad to know that should I ever need it, there is another option to feed my baby.

I absolutely love this part of the Human Milk 4 Human Babies Vision Statement:

Breastmilk, the biologically normal sustenance for humankind, is a free-flowing resource and mothers of the world are willing to share it. Milksharing is a vital tradition that has been taken from us, and it is crucial that we regain trust in ourselves, our neighbors, and in our fellow women. Feeding any breastmilk substitute is not without risk and we support the families who know there is another option. We are the bridge that connects local families and brings them together again as milksharing communities. Indeed, the future of humanity depends on our return to sharing in a local and tangible way with one another.

We want milksharing and wet-nursing to be commonplace and babies to be fed at women's breasts whenever and wherever they need it. We dream of a world where mothers from previous generations pass on the tradition of breastfeeding and are a wealth of knowledge and support. We can forsee a time when women protect each other and help one another feed their babies so that every mother feels whole and no mother feels broken or that her body is failing her. We imagine a world where family members, friends, lactation consultants, doctors, and midwives do not hesitate to recommend donor milk when it is needed. We envision a future where families come together to raise this generation, and the next, by nourishing human babies everywhere with human milk and unconditional love.

I think the vision of Human Milk 4 Human Babies is beautiful, and I want to do everything I can to help that vision become reality. I encourage you to find your local HM4HB facebook page, in case you ever need a donor or could become a donor yourself. (For my local friends, here's the link to the Utah HM4HB page and to the Idaho HM4HB page.)

***

Back Carries with a Newborn in a Wrap

2011-08-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

I was totally inspired by all the pictures of mamas wearing babies on their backs in wraps in last week's Wordless Wednesday blog hop. Lauren at Hobo Mama passed along some links to videos of back carries with a newborn, so I tried it out yesterday while I was cleaning and making dinner.

I had to have Marco help me adjust a bit, but it wasn't too hard to get Emi Lou on my back, and it was much easier and more comfortable... not to mention SAFER... to have her on my back while I was making dinner.

I always have a hard time keeping my babies from tilting their head back when they sleep. As you can see, the wrap is supporting her head, but I need to work on keeping her head tilted down a little more.

Do you wear your newborn on your back? What's your favorite carrier or type of tie for back carries with a newborn?

The Big Latch On!

2011-07-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

A week from today mamas all across the nation will gather to attempt to break the world record for simultaneous breastfeeding during the Big Latch On. (The current international world record is 9,826 nursing mothers, recorded at 325 sites in 16 countries in October 2010.) Our local event is being held at Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City. To participate, you must register between 10 and 10:30 am, then have your child latched on from 10:30 - 10:31 am.

I'm really excited for the opportunity to be part of a (potential) world record-breaking event! If you are interested in participating in the Big Latch On in your area, go here for more info.

And speaking of latching on, last week at the Latch On America event, I picked up quite a few goodie bags. In one of the bags were some Lasinoh products along with a card of "Latch-On Tips". It was so clever and helpful, I just had to share...

Lips        Baby’s lips turn outward
Areola Baby takes one inch of areola into mouth along with nipple
Tickle    Tickle baby’s lips with your nipple to encourage a wide open mouth
Chin       Baby’s chin rests against breast
Hold      Hold breast with thumb on one side and fingers on the other to aid latch-on
Open    Bring baby to breast when baby’s mouth is wide open
No Pain If you are feeling pain or discomfort, gently unlatch and try again

I think the last tip, No Pain, is the most important. Breastfeeding should not hurt. If your baby is not latched on properly, it will be painful and may lead to sore, cracked, or bleeding nipples.

If you're struggling with obtaining a proper latch, hopefully the tips above will help. If you've tried the tips above and still don't feel you're obtaining a good latch, try working with a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader. You can always find a La Leche League leader by going here or by calling 1-877-4-LALECHE.

Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing Photos

2011-07-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe's Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today's post is about breastfeeding when you have more than one child. Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 18th through the 31st!

My first babywearing photo ever

Babywearing at the Beach

Babywearing in Kauai

(I really don't know how people travel WITHOUT wearing their babies!)

Babywearing a sleepy, nursing toddler in my homemade stretchy wrap.

My first "Tandem Babywearing" photo...

6 months pregnant and wearing a sick, nursing toddler

Wearing both munchkins on the outside

Not a babywearing photo of me (obviously), but how beautiful is this?

Observing everyone wearing babies in Guatemala had a profound impact on me. It made me the babywearer I am today and I can't imagine life any other way!!

Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

Amy @ Toddler in Tow-Wordless Wednesday Babywearing!
Ashley @ Adventures with my Monkeys-Breastfeeding Carnival Day 10: Wordless Wednesday Babywearing Style
Amy @ Anktangle-Meals On-the-Go
Xela @ The Happy Hippie Homemaker-Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing Photos
Timbra @ Bosoms and Babes-Babywearing 5 Years Strong
Lauren @ Hobo Mama-Babywearing a Newborn
Claire @ The Adventures of Lactating Girl-Pregnant Babywearing
Renee @ Just the 5 of us!-I Miss Snuggly Sling Days
And of course on the Breastfeeding Cafe’s blog today-Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing Flash Mob Video

How I Am a Hippie

2011-07-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy Travis_Simon

A couple weeks after Emi Lou was born, I went to a friend's house to have her take some pictures of us. I had curled my hair and put on full face make up. I think I was even wearing my fake lashes. So we got to talking and my sweet friend said to me, "I love your blog, but what's with the 'hippie'?"

Now I'll admit, if you saw me on the street, you probably wouldn't think "hippie". I love my Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and John Lennon, but I've never had dreads, I shave my legs and armpits (before it gets noticeably long anyway), and I haven't owned Birkenstocks since the eighth grade.

But I've always kind of been the "hippie" of my family... doing "weird" things like wearing my baby, having a family bed, tandem nursing, cloth diapering, and having a natural hospital birth and then a home birth.

Today I was reading Natural Urban Mamas blog post on Babywearing Myths and Misconceptions and she explained how babywearing is for hippies. According to wikipedia.org, Both the words "hip" and "hep" came from black American culture and denote awareness. To say "I'm hip to the situation" means "I am aware of the situation." Thus the word "hippie" means "one who is aware," and expanded awareness was a goal of the movement.

So in that sense of the word, I am absolutely a hippie! I am a hippie for the Attachment Parenting movement (which is all about PEACEful parenting). I'm a hippie for natural childbirth and the Homebirth movement. I'm a hippie for breastfeeding, babywearing, and bedsharing. I'm newly a hippie for cloth diapering and elimination communication.

Hippies en busca de la tierra prometida by efedefoto
"Hippies in search of the Promised Land"

So even though I don't look like this...

Image courtesy misterjt

... I can assure you I really am a hippie!

How Tandem Nursing Saves My Sanity!

2011-07-25T23:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe's Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today's post is about reliable breastfeeding resources. Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 18th through the 31st!

I remember the first time I saw a picture of a tandem nursing pair... I was pregnant with Gigi and I had gotten a free copy of Mothering magazine from my midwife. (That magazine changed my life in so many ways!) In the letters to the editor section, there was a picture of a mother nursing her 3 year old and her 3 week old, and I remember thinking "Wow! That's kind of crazy!! There's no way I could ever do that!!!"

Even though I knew I wanted to let my little one wean on her own, it somehow never occurred to me someone might nurse both a toddler and a newborn. I guess I figured my little Gigi would wean herself before I even tried to get pregnant again. I really didn't think she'd nurse past two years.

Of course, after she was born, it quickly became apparent how much she loved nursing and that it wouldn't be something she'd give up easily or early. That child nursed to sleep, nursed to wake up, nursed for comfort, nursed because she was bored, and nursed for any other reason you could think of!

When I found out I was pregnant with Emi Lou, Gigi was 22 months old. She was still nursing a minimum of four times a day (and often much more than that) and all thru the night. There was no way I could consider weaning her. I knew how much it meant to her and didn't want to force her to give up nursing before she was ready, so I started researching tandem nursing.

I was surprised to learn that many moms who intend to tandem nurse don't make it thru the pregnancy without the older child weaning for one reason or another. Children often wean themselves when the mother becomes pregnant, due to changes in the taste and quantity of the breastmilk, and mothers often find they must wean because nursing becomes too painful when they're pregnant.

Fortunately for us, Gigi didn't seem bothered by changes in the taste of the milk and she was happy to dry nurse when there was hardly anything there. And fortunately for me, I didn't experience too much discomfort nursing while pregnant.

I read Adventures in Tandem Nursing, and found it to be a very valuable resource. It taught me that it's ok to set limits with nurslings, which I hadn't done before then. Gigi is a "twiddler", and that's one thing that had to stop when I was pregnant because it was the one thing that seemed to hurt. There were also times during the second trimester, when I didn't have much milk, that I had to implement the "Count to 10" rule because I could only handle dry nursing for so long!

I have to say, I'm so thankful that Gigi was old enough to understand me when I explained the changes we had to make to continue nursing. And now, during those times when Emi Lou needs my undivided attention while nursing, I'm glad that Gigi is understanding and waits for her sister to finish. It's also helpful that she's old enough and mobile enough to figure out all sorts of creative positions that allow her to nurse at the same time as Emi Lou!

I can't imagine life as a new mom-to-two without tandem nursing. Many of my friends have told me the hardest thing about having a second baby is trying to keep a reign on the older sibbling while they're feeding the newborn. Big brother/sister is either fighting for your attention or off getting into mischeif! That's never a problem for us because the minute I sit down to nurse Emi Lou, Gigi is right there to join in the fun! It's so nice and relaxing to be able to lay in bed, with a little one in each arm, and enjoy the feel-good hormones released as we nurse.

And having a toddler who's willing to nurse on demand is extremely helpful when you suffer with oversupply and plugged ducts! In the early weeks, I always had to have Gigi nurse a little bit before I nursed Emi Lou because my let-down reflex was so strong that Emi Lou was constantly choking and gagging. And even now, I get a plugged duct at least once a week, but thanks to having two nurslings (and one with a really well-developed, intense suck) I'm usually able to work out the plug in less than a day.

I think one of the sweetest benefits of tandem nursing is the bonding it can promote between sibblings. I definitely think it's helped Gigi to bond with her sister. She likes to help her sister get latched on and to hold her hand or hug her while they nurse. It just melts my heart watching them! I feel like they'll always have a very special bond as a result of tandem nursing.

I know tandem nursing isn't for everyone, but I encourage any nursing mother who's pregnant (or thinking about it), to at least consider tandem nursing. It has saved my sanity in so many ways... from sparing me the stress of weaning my toddler before she was ready, to allowing me to pacify her when she has a typical two-year-old meltdown, to giving me time to just put my feet up and relax when I need to!

I'm not gonna lie... there are times when it's a little draining to be nursing two, but I doubt there's a mom of two out there (or a mom of one, for that matter!) who doesn't feel drained from time to time for one reason or another! There are so many benefits of tandem nursing, for mama and the nurslings, and it can be such a special experience. It's an experience I hope to enjoy for at least another year... or two... (most children wean before they're five, right?!)

Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

Xela @ The Happy Hippie Homemaker-How Tandem Nursing Saves My Sanity!
Ashley @ Adventures with my Monkeys-Breastfeedng Carnival Day 9: Breastfeeding and Multiples
Sylko @ Chaotic Mama-Breastfeedng Carnival Day 9
Natasha @ Natural Urban Mama-Our version of "Milk Sharing"!
Timbra @ Bosoms and Babes-Tandem Mommyhood
Christina @ From One Momma to Another-Breastfeeding and Multiples: Breastfeeding Cafe
Claire @ The Adventures of Lactating Girl-How Breastfeeding Through Pregnancy Helps ME
And of course the guest poster on the Breastfeeding Cafe’s blog today is Heather Simpson-Breastfeeding My Toddler Through Pregnancy

Milk for Thought

2011-07-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

Nursing Emi Lou in front of the big, pink bus

Have you heard about the 27 year old single guy (with no children) who's driving across the country in a 40 foot pink bus to raise awareness for breastfeeding? Well his name is Ryan Comfort, and I had the privilege of meeting this fascinating individual at the Latch On America: Utah event last Friday, where I learned about his goal for the Latch On America tour and the vision for his website, MilkforThought.com.

In a nutshell, the concept behind MilkforThought.com and the Latch On America tour is to create change by uniting the breastfeeding community. Many moms know how difficult it can be to breastfeed... from problems with proper latch and sore nipples, to low milk supply or oversupply. Imagine if there was a website you could visit to find videos showing how to get a proper latch or demonstrating different nursing positions to help slow the flow due to oversupply. Imagine if, on that same website, you could browse profiles of lactation consultants or find local support groups for breastfeeding. Well that's what Ryan hopes MilkforThought.com will become.

According to their website, the goal of MilkforThought.com is the following:

At Milk for Thought, we want to change the landscape of breastfeeding — from attitudes to advocacy to education. Our goals are to work collaboratively to empower pregnant and breastfeeding moms by connecting them to local experts and counselors, baby-friendly hospitals and birthing centers, support groups, and other mothers who are out there and want so much to help. Instantly, new moms will get the support, encouragement, and shoulder to lean on that they need to have a successful breastfeeding journey.

The website is still under development, but eventually it will be kind of like a Facebook for breastfeeding (my analogy, not theirs!) They had pamphlets at the event with some cool screen shots of what the social networking pages will look like. (Wish my scanner worked so I could share!) Anyway, I can't wait till all the features of the website are up and running. In the meantime, you can sign up for an account here so that you can be among the first to know as updates to the site are made!

Why I feel the need to nurse in public!

2011-07-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe's Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today's post is about the importance of breastfeeding. Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 18th through the 31st!

Me nursing Gigi in the Ergo as we waited to march in the Draper Days Parade

I'll admit it. I'm not shy about "whipping it out," when necessary. But if you would have asked me 5 years ago how I felt about nursing a baby in public (uncovered if necessary), I (like most Americans) would have told you it was weird and totally inappropriate.

I remember the first time I actually saw a mother nursing in public, uncovered. It was about 5 years ago. I was working at IKEA and the mother was waiting in line at the bistro. I was shocked. I remember saying to a co-worker, "Can you believe that mom is just standing there nursing?!"

Oh how the tables have turned! I guess the first time I nursed "in public" was in the hospital. Our friends Ian, Erin, and their daughter Ava visited us in the hospital the night Gigi was born, and since the hospital hadn't sent a lactation consultant my way (despite my numerous requests) and I was a clueless first time mom, I asked Erin to help me figure out this whole nursing thing. I tried to think of a way to cover myself so that Erin could see my baby and the goods, but Ian couldn't, but since all I had was the sheet on the bed and the hospital gown I was wearing, I just whipped it out. I was desperate to feed my baby, so I figured Ian could either see the goods or look away.

I remember the first time I tried to nurse in public while covered. I was in Albertsons, going on a super coupon shopping spree. I was wearing Gigi in my Sleepy Wrap, my cart was full to the brim, and I was trying to find some granola bars that were free after coupon. Suddenly I felt my baby start rubbing her head back and forth between my breasts, searching for something to latch on to. I knew she wouldn't be able to hold out till I finished shopping and checked out... till I could hide in a bathroom stall or in the car to nurse. Luckily my sister-in-law had sent me a lovely nursing cover, so I pulled it out, then pulled out the goods and fed my baby.

I still couldn't find the granola bars so I found a store employee to ask for assistance. The employee I found looked like he was in his mid-forties (old enough to have kids) and was really tall. Tall enough that he could surely see down the nursing cover. When I asked where I could find the granola bars, he looked annoyed and said they didn't have any. Truthfully, I'm not sure if the guy was annoyed that I was nursing in public, or annoyed that I was another crazy coupon lady looking for those free granola bars!

I'd say the nursing in public experience that really turned me into a lactivist though was an experience I had with just me and my co-worker. My sweet co-worker, who ended up replacing me when I decided to stay home full time, was a mid-twenties single girl who was the youngest in her family. One evening after everyone in the office had gone home for the day, we met to finish training her on the duties she would be taking over. Little Gigi got hungry, so I put on my nursing cover and started nursing, while continuing to train my co-worker.

Suddenly Gigi started sucking really loudly. I'm not sure if it was really any louder than she normally was when she nursed, or if it just felt that way because it was so quiet in the office, but I could tell my co-worker was getting a little uncomfortable. I appologized for what a noisy eater Gigi was, and she laughed and said "Yeah, AWKWARD!"

I felt bad for making my co-worker uncomfortable (I really do feel bad when I make people feel uncomfortable!) but as I drove home I got to thinking... Why does it make someone feel awkward to hear a baby suck loudly on a breast, yet people seem to think it's cute to hear those sounds when a bottle or pacifier is on the other end? Why is it that what is natural doesn't seem normal? Why is it that using a breast for its god-given purpose is seen as indecent?

It seems to me that the best way to normalize breastfeeding is not to hide it! It's not "normal" because it's not something people normally see.

True, it's possible to leave your cart full of groceries to go hide in the bathroom to nurse your baby, but do you like eating in the bathroom? Why should a baby be forced to do so?? Some babies will allow you to cover them with a nursing cover, but many won't. Should they not be allowed to eat? I would bet that most people would be more disturbed and annoyed by the sound of a screaming, starving baby than a mother nursing uncovered.

I remember reading an article in Mothering Magazine about a woman who lived in Mongolia, a country where 93% of women are breastfeeding exclusively at 4 months and 82% continued for 12 - 15 months. She told of how breastfeeding women were highly revered... how taxi drivers would give her the thumbs up sign as she nursed her son, and vendors would clear a space for her in their stalls so her son could "drink up." (You can read the entire article here.)

How would it be to live in a country where women were embraced for breastfeeding their children whenever and wherever they were? Unfortunately, women in our society are often harrassed instead.

I was shocked when I learned that a local momma was recently harrassed in Whole Foods (of all places) for nursing her 18 month old. The store manager and security guard couldn't understand why she wouldn't just "cover up". I'm here to attest that not even my mellow little Gigi would let me keep any sort of cover over her after she was about 9 months old! I really loved the momma's response to the "cover up" suggestion...

To me, when you ask a nursing mother to cover up it sends a message that what you are doing is wrong. I didn't feel it was appropriate for them to tell me I was doing something wrong when I was nourishing my child.

A national nurse-in is being organized for Saturday, August 20th, and I definitely plan to attend. I'm thinking about ordering some of these cards to hand out at the event, because really I don't think I could summarize the reasons I nurse in public any better than this...

Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

Dionna @ Code Name Mama-Twiddle Me That
Judy @ Mommy News & Views Blog-Breastfeeding in Public
Natasha @ Natural Urban Mama-NIP by NUM
Timbra @ Bosoms and Babes-In Public Eye
Claire @ The Adventures of Lactating Girl-How It Should Be
Xela @ Happy Hippie Homemaker-Why I feel the need to nurse in public
Shelly @ Lousy Mom-Breastfeeding Welcome Here
Renee @ Just the 5 of us!-Take it All Off
Sylko @ Chaotic Mama-Breastfeeding Carnival Day 5
Ana @ Motherhood: Deconstructed-Breastfeeding in Public is Good for Society
Sara @ the Momzelle blog-Shy Girl Nursing in Public
And of course the guest poster on the Breastfeeding Cafe’s blog today is Melissa LaVange-Breastfeeding is Not Taboo

Wordless Wednesday: Favorite Breastfeeding Photos

2011-07-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

So I've been wanting to participate in "Wordless Wednesday" for a while now, but as we all know, I have a hard time blogging regularly. I was all excited to participate in the blog carnival hosted by The Breastfeeding Cafe, but kind of intimidated as well since I've never participated in a blog carnival and I'm afraid of deadlines. Then I somehow overlooked the fact that the blog carnival was happening in the weeks leading up to all the Breastfeeding Cafe events, and didn't realize that the blog carnival had already started until I got Hobo Mama's Wordless Wednesday email. I tried emailing the "blog carnival mistress" but I guess I was a little too late to be included in the blog carnival today... I'm going to post this anyway...

This is the only professional picture I've had taken. I'm looking forward to having some more taken as part of a fundraiser the Breastfeeding Cafe is holding.

I think this was my first breastfeeding pic ever taken. (Amazing quality, I know!) I love that Gigi looks as orange as a pumpkin, and that my breast is bigger than her head!

Cookies and Milk!

First picture of Emi Lou nursing. She's probably only about 10 minutes old in this picture. (I'm not 100% sure because I just discovered the date and time on my hubby's camera are off!)

I love this portrait my friend Ginger took when Emi Lou was 2 weeks old

This is how we spend a good portion of the day... especially when my hubby is traveling, as it seems to be the only way I can keep everyone content sometimes!

FREE SLEEPY WRAP OR BOBA!!!

2011-06-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

So I'm sure you all know what a HUGE fan I am of my Sleepy Wrap and my Boba carrier, and of babywearing in general. Needless to say, when some friends of mine from La Leche League organized a "Babywearing Flash Mob" I jumped right on board... even though I had NO idea what a "flash mob" was. For anyone as clueless as me, the wikipedia definition of a "flash mob" is "a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment and/or satire." Now you probably know what I mean, but in any case here's a good example...

(Thankfully, the dance we will be performing isn't nearly this elaborate!)

Although I had my apprehensions about doing a little choreographed dance in a busy public place, I figured if it would raise awareness of the benefits of babywearing, it would be worth it. Well I was completely sold on the idea when I saw on Facebook today that every mama who participates in the flash mob will get either a free Sleepy Wrap or Boba Carrier!!!!!!

So if you would like to be given one of my two favorite baby products and you are available the first weekend of August, come participate in the babywearing flash mob. The next rehearsal is July 15th at 4 pm. You can find out more details by "liking" the Breastfeeding Cafe SLC on Facebook.

And a potential added bonus to those of you who may be new to babywearing... there will be lots of people at the flash mob rehearsals who can give you tips on ways to wear your baby :) So come join the fun and be a part of the babywearing flash mob!!

Emi Lou's birth story

2011-05-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

WARNING: This is a really long post. I personally don't enjoy reading verbose blog posts, but this post is more a record for me and Emi Lou than something I think other people will enjoy reading. Feel free to skip over the story and just look at the pictures :) Oh and speaking of pictures... these are pictures of childbirth, so you may not want to look at them if you are offended by too much skin. I tried to make sure there's nothing too graphic, but consider yourself warned...

Our sweet little Emilia Lucia arrived on May 19th at 2:42 a.m., and it was a magical, beautiful event!I’m pretty sure this sweet little angel was ready to arrive for a few weeks before she did, but she waited until mommy was ready.

As I mentioned before, we started remodeling the entire main floor of our house about a week before we decided we wanted a home birth. (I know I STILL need to post “after” pics of the remodel, but I figure this is a more important topic to blog about :) Here's a sneak peak though...)

The normal me has a hard time functioning in a disorganized, dirty house. The nine-month pregnant me, who was planning to birth at home, could hardly function in the mess that was left when the remodel was finished.

It took a couple of weeks, but on Tuesday, the 17th, I finally had my house mostly put back together. I woke up the morning of the 18th feeling like I would meet my baby girl before I went to sleep. I washed the little outfit I wanted her to wear when she arrived and spent the day doing some deep cleaning.

Marco came home around 6 pm and was a little upset. He had been talking to our friends about how I had been measuring small for the past month and was worried that there was something wrong with the baby. He wanted to get an ultrasound, so I called the midwife and she agreed to set something up first thing in the morning. I remember thinking that it would be a little weird to look at the baby in utero the next day, because I really imagined having her in my arms.

Around 9 pm I started wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me. I was feeling contractions about every 10 minutes, but they still felt like Braxton-Hicks contractions. I decided to take a bath and see if they went away (something which had worked without fail for the 6 months I had been enduring Braxton-Hicks contractions). They were still coming pretty regularly while I was in the bath and started coming about 5 minutes apart when I got out, so at 10:30 pm I decided to call the midwife, Melissa.

When Melissa arrived around 11 pm I still didn’t really feel like I was in labor, but when she checked me she found that I was dilated to 4 and fully effaced. She said that some people would stay at that point for days, but she felt like we should go ahead and set up the pool. So Marco and Melissa set up the birth pool while I went downstairs to try to put Gigi to bed.

I think Gigi knew something was up because even though she was really tired, she just wouldn’t fall asleep. I nursed her for at least an hour while we watched Word World, and although the nursing didn’t put her to sleep, it was at least helpful for moving labor along.

I got up at about 12:30 because the contractions were getting longer and stronger and were finally feeling like more than just Braxton-Hicks. I tried texting and calling the friends who had planned on attending the birth, but of course, couldn’t get a hold of anyone! I wandered around for a bit… said hello to the other midwife, Heidi, who had arrived, made sure the video camera and digital cameras were ready, and at about 1:30 am I finally decided to get in the birth pool.

Just as I was getting in the pool, my friend Liz called me back to let me know she was on the way. I was so relieved! Liz had used Hypnobirthing when she delivered her daughter and had given me a few birth hypnosis CDs (including “Baby Stay IN!”, which I listened to every night for a month, up until May 17th :) I knew Liz would be able to help me stay relaxed and focused during birth, and I was glad that she would be able to help take pictures of the birth as well.

The power of Hypnobirthing!

After I got off the phone with Liz, I heard Gigi coming upstairs. When she saw that I was in the pool, she wanted to get in too, so Marco helped her put on her swimsuit. I could hear her in her room saying something to Marco about Emi Lou coming in the pool :) She was so excited!

Gigi’s pool time didn’t last very long though. As soon as she got in, she decided she was ready for bed! It was perfect timing… I could see that she was completely wiped out and would be asleep in no time, and my contractions were still manageable… so after Marco put on her jammies, I got out and took her down to bed.

Even though I was wrapped in a towel and covered in blankets, I was shivering uncontrollably! Gigi giggled at me and said “Can you please stop that?!” Then she latched on and passed out.

I was kind of amazed how quickly she fell asleep and stayed asleep... a couple of minutes after we laid down (before I was sure she was asleep) I felt a contraction come on and I remembered thinking “Oh my gosh, I feel like my water is going to break!” Sure enough, a second later, it broke with a gush. I was sure Gigi would feel it and freak out, but miraculously she just snored away.

I snuck out of bed and into the bathroom. I guess Marco must have heard me because the next thing I remember is being curled up in a ball on the floor with Marco trying to help me up. Somehow we made it upstairs and into the birth pool, which was sweet relief!

My beautiful midwife, Melissa

I can’t say enough about what a wonderful tool I think a tub/pool of warm is for a laboring woman. It is so relaxing and makes labor so much more manageable! And from what I’ve read, being able to stay relaxed is the key to helping your labor progress.

I know this pic is a little blurry, but I just love the intensity in Marco's face in this one.

So far, that has definitely been true for me. I remember I progressed really quickly with Gigi while I was in the tub, but then things slowed down when I had to get out to push. Since I was able to stay in the water for the entire labor and delivery this time, it took less than an hour from the time my water broke till my baby girl was in my arms.

I think the best thing about having a home water birth though, was how Marco was able to be so involved in the whole process. The midwives were so wonderful about assisting us in delivering our baby... they coached and encouraged us, and knew when to step back and when to get involved.

Emi Lou was born into all of our hands. I asked for help after her head and shoulders came out, because she didn’t slide right out like I had imagined she would. I’m definitely glad the midwives were there to help after she was born because she didn’t make a sound for a few minutes after she arrived… she just looked at me.

Honestly, it worried me a little, but the midwives reminded me she was still getting oxygen thru her umbilical cord. They were right there with oxygen immediately, and kept checking her heart and lungs with the stethoscope. She had good color, and it only took a minute or two for her to make a little squawk and clear her lungs. But after a squawk or two, she fell asleep and took over a 10 minute nap! I don’t know if that was a sign that her birth was exhausting or super peaceful, but it seems like I have another super mellow baby :)

After I got out of the birth pool, we moved into the bedroom so daddy could have some skin-to-skin bonding time and so she could have a chance to nurse. She latched on right away and has been nursing like a champ! (In fact, she weighed an ounce more than her birth weight when we visited the pediatrician 4 days after she was born, and I hear it normally takes a week or 2 for babies to get back to their birth weight!)

We did the newborn exam right on the bed, and I was able to hold her hands which was nice because it helped her stay calm. Official stats: 8 lbs 3 oz (after nursing :) and 20.5 inches long!

The midwives stayed for about an hour to clean up and make sure we were doing ok. After they left I called my mom, tried texting a bunch of people (only to find out that I can’t send a text to more than 10 people at once and I have no way of forwarding sent texts on my phone), and finally went to bed. I had planned on us all going to bed in the same bed, as a big happy family, but decided to sleep in the guest bed with Emi Lou so we could capture on film the moment Gigi met her baby sister. (Which I did, and it was beautiful, but that’s another post for another day…)

So my home birth was everything I had imagined and hoped for. I don’t think it could have gone any more perfectly! We are all recuperating and adjusting to life as a family of four wonderfully. Gigi loves her baby sister (sometimes a little too much) and she is such a great big sister. Emi Lou is calm and mellow and makes it easy to still be able to spend lots of time with Gigi. Marco has been so incredibly helpful… cooking (he’s an amazing chef) and cleaning and helping out with the girls. I feel great, although I am a little sleep deprived because sweet Emi Lou spends a lot of time awake at night wanting to nurse and look around :) But I can’t complain… Emi Lou had a perfect birth and I have a perfect family! Life is good!!

An exciting change of plans...

2011-05-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

So I’m now officially 38 weeks pregnant by the latest due date they gave me… which is about 2 weeks more pregnant than I’ve ever been. This is a good thing though. The past few weeks have been crazy hectic and I’ve been begging my little baby to stay in just a little longer.

We did some EXTREME nesting (started by moving the office downstairs and girls room upstairs, then decided to hire the neighbor to install the hardwood floors that have been sitting in the guest room for a year, which then turned into installing all new mouldings, painting, and completely remodeling our upstairs bathroom) and I ALMOST have the house put back together. I think the hubby is going to finish painting the girls new room this weekend, and I’m planning to spend a few days deep cleaning… oh, and hopefully have a chance to blog about the before and after of the whole project.

Anyway, in the middle of our remodel, when the house was pretty much turned upside down and I was just a week from when I had originally expected the baby to come (36 weeks… which was when our first munchkin was born) my sweet hubby said to me “So we had better decide if we’re going to do a homebirth or not.” This totally caught me by surprise, because I thought the issue was off the table.

I guess I should back up… In March a friend had given me a copy of world-renowned midwife Ina May Gaskin’s book Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. It’s such an inspiring and empowering book, I could hardly put it down! And it l left me really wanting the homebirth experience.

So I asked my hubby what he thought of the idea. When we were pregnant with our first and I had told him I wanted to have her at a birth center, he wasn’t really excited about the idea, but then we watched The Business of Being Born and he decided he never wanted to have a baby in a hospital. Well, we all know how that turned out… I had an amazing, natural hospital birth J

So my hubby’s question was, “What’s wrong with another hospital birth?” Theoretically, if it went well the first time, with no unnecessary interventions, then it should go well this time too, right?

While I know I most likely would have been able to have another successful natural birth at the hospital, there were a couple of things missing. First, the option of a waterbirth. None of the hospitals near me allow pregnant women to deliver in the water. A few hospitals have tubs that moms can labor in, but many of the benefits of a water birth (such as reducing tearing of the perineum and easing the baby’s transition from the womb to the world) occur during the actual delivery of the baby. (If you’re interested in some of the other noted benefits of water birth, check out this website: http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/benefits.html)

The other thing I didn’t love about my hospital birth was the recovery. Between all the noise, the uncomfortable bed, and the well-meaning nurses coming in to check on me every hour or so, I got almost no sleep while I was in the hospital! Not to mention the fact that they convinced me to let them take my baby away for some reason in the middle of the night when my husband was sleeping and I was only half awake. (My hubby was NOT happy when he found out about that, since we had agreed that the baby would never be out of our sight!) I didn’t feel like I did any “recovering” until I got home.

I was also not excited about the thought of having to spend 24 – 48 hours in the hospital after the birth, and not being able to have my 2 year old with me. We are pretty much attached at the hip, and we’ve only ever spent one night (a total of 10 hours) apart. I figured the addition of a new little person to share mommy’s love on top of being separated from mommy for that long might be a bit too much for her to handle.

So, back to my shock at the hubby bringing up the option of homebirth again... we had discussed the option back in March and it seemed like his mind was made up against it. I could see his point of view… we had a good experience at the hospital the first time and he felt safer there. His sister was born with special needs and, although no one is sure what caused her condition (or even what condition she has), she was born with the umbilical cord tightly around her neck. While I understand the concern regarding suffocation by the umbilical cord, I found it comforting to learn that according to the March of Dimes, about 25% of babies are born with the umbilical cord around their necks and it rarely causes any problems. (Here’s another interesting article about the likelihood of a baby being strangled by the umbilical cord.)

I know there are a lot of concerns in general about the safety of home birth. What many people may not realize is that homebirth midwives are well prepared for the many childbirth emergencies. They carry with them oxygen for moms and babies and can administer Pitocin via IV in case of hemorrhage. According to a 2005 study of over 5400 planned home births attended by Certified Professional Midwives in North America (comprised of 98 % US citizens and 2% Canadian), (estimated to be 80 – 90% of American women) is just as safe as hospital birth and is associated with MUCH lower rates of intervention. In fact, according to the study, your chances of having a cesarean section are six times higher if you deliver in a hospital! That’s reason enough to keep me out of the hospital!

So now it’s official… we’re having a home birth! I’m still not sure what made my husband change his mind about having a home birth. Maybe it was spending lots of time during our remodel with our neighbor who was one of six kids born at home. I know about half of my friends will be super excited for me, and the rest of you will probably think I’m crazy. I personally know I’m crazy! I mean, I know insurance won’t cover my homebirth and I’m actually choosing to pay more for something than I absolutely have to… ME… the coupon queen/bargain hunter!! This is pretty momentous and I’m not going to lie, it has caused me a bit of inner turmoil over the money aspect. But in the end, I know being able to have the water birth I’ve always wanted in the comfort of my own home will be priceless!!

Money Saving Monday - How to save on organic foods!

2011-05-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about using coupons and some of my other strategies for saving money is that it has allowed me to have extra room in my budget for more organic foods. Even so, organic foods can be expensive, so I've had to figure out ways to save money on organic foods too.
Today I'm sharing my tips for saving money on organic foods. Hopefully they will help you to be able to afford more organic foods in your budget too. A lot of the things I do to save money on organics are the same things I do to save money on groceries in general (like cooking from scratch and stocking up when I find a great deal), but a few of my "tricks" are unique to shopping for organic foods...

Tips for Saving on Organics

1. Buy in Bulk

Don’t pay a premium for packaging… use your own containers and save tons of money while saving the environment! Buy organic yogurt in quarts rather than 4 oz. – 8 oz. cups. Annie’s Organic crackers cost 3.2 cents per ounce in a big box at Target or 30 cents per ounce in individual packages in the big box at Costco! (Costco does have great prices on organic raisins and sugar.) Always pay attention to the cost per ounce!

2. Stock up when you find a great sale

I never pay more than 49 cents for Annie’s Organic mac ‘n cheese because I stock up when Smith’s (Kroger) has their $5 off 10 promotion. (They usually run this promotion 2 – 3 times a year.)

3. Cook from scratch

Why buy a box of organic frozen waffles, when you can buy organic flour, eggs, milk, and oil and make them yourself for half the cost? I always double or quadruple my recipe and freeze the extras so I only have to make waffles once a month.

4. Shop at Sunflower Market and Fresh Market (if you’re in Utah)!

· Sunflower Market has “Double Ad Wednesdays” when their weekly flyers overlap, so twice as many things are on sale! They have great produce prices and wonderful quality. I can almost always get organic apples and carrots for 99 cents a pound and often get organic lettuce for about $1.50 a head.

· Fresh Market’s “Natural Directions” organic prices are very affordable. (This line is also sold at Harmon’s, but generally costs less at Fresh Market.) I generally buy my organic canned goods at Fresh Market.

5. When it comes to produce, buy only the “Dirty Dozen”, not the “Clean 15”

Image mypapercrane

Let’s face it… organic produce is expensive! Try to spend the bulk of your organic budget on those items with the highest pesticide residues. Clean all produce well before eating. (Follow these guidelines.)

6. Subscribe to Saving Naturally and other organic deal blogs

This where I find out about the current organic deals available on amazon.com and other online retailers. This is also a great resource for links to coupons for natural and organic foods.

Money Saving Monday - More Ways to Save!

2011-05-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

I figure this post is better late than never. I actually TRIED to get this posted yesterday, but I'm trying to figure out how to use MS Word for blog posts... it's not working so well. I finally got it to actually post, but it didn't keep my formatting or pictures. And then when I tried adding back in the pictures, it wouldn't put them in the right place. I don't know if it's something I'm doing, a problem with blogger, or something that got messed up when I tried posting from Word (most likely!) but if anyone has any tips or knows of any tutorials I can turn to, please let me know!
Anyway, over the past couple weeks I've blogged about my top 10 tips for saving money on your grocery budget, how to save money using coupons, and now I'd like to share some other tips on ways to save.

I've listed these tips in order of least amount of effort to most. I always recommend starting out slowly... don't try to implement all these tips at once or you may get frustrated or burn out. The first couple tips are really simple though, so give them a try!

Sign up for store cards

Not only do you often save money immediately because you're a "preferred customer", you also usually get special coupons mailed or emailed to you. Here are some of the cards I have and their benefits:

Smith's (Kroger) Fresh Values Rewards: save money on certain sale items each week; get points for purchases, good towards money off gas or cash back at the end of the quarter; load coupons to your card; Smith's also mails out store coupons and manufacturer coupons.
Target REDCard: This DEBIT card saves you 5% off all purchases every day.
Starbucks Rewards: Register your Starbucks gift card and get rewards based off the number of drinks you buy. Keep reloading your card so that the points keep accumulating!

Sign up for "rewards clubs" or mailing lists from your favorite restaurants and stores

Every store is a little different, but you often get special coupons or money back based on purchases. Some examples…

Amazon Mom: THE EASIEST WAY TO GET A GOOD DEAL ON DIAPERS AND WIPES…. WITHOUT EVER LEAVING THE HOUSE!!
Get 30% off diapers and wipes, shipped to your door, when you "Subscribe & Save", and get free shipping for up to a year based on your purchases. You can make these deals even sweeter by using amazon.com coupons often found in BabyTalk and other baby magazines. (I actually did a comparison recently, and found it's cheaper to buy Huggies size 3 diapers from amazon.com than at Costco, even when Costco has a coupon! {Regular price on amazon.com is 17 cents per diaper while regular price at Costco is 22 cents per diaper or 20 cents with the coupon.} You can occasionally get Huggies cheaper at Target if you have a Target coupon, plus a manufacturers coupon, and they're doing one of their gift card promotions, but it's definitely more work!)
Chili's, Cold Stone, Noodles: Get a free meal or dessert on your birthday; get emails once a month or more with coupons for free items or money off.
Carters: Sign up in-store for local deals and emails. Get emails for 20 – 30% off your purchase of $30 – 50; Stamp card for $10 off once you fill up the card (Tuesdays are double stamp days!)
Staples, Office Max, Office Depot: Get office supplies for free or next to nothing by taking advantage of these programs. You'll get cash back for purchases and for recycling ink cartridges.

Buy in "Bulk" (this does NOT necessarily mean a huge package of something!)

Image cinderellasg

Don't pay a premium for packaging… use your own containers and save tons of money while saving the environment! Buy yogurt in quarts rather than 4 oz – 8 oz cups. Annie's Organic crackers cost 3.2 cents per ounce in a big box at Target or 30 cents per ounce in individual packages in the big box at Costco! I buy all my beans & legumes, spices, and baking ingredients (flour, baking powder, etc.) in bulk at Winco.

Buy used

Craigslist.org and other online classifieds are often great resources for finding gently used furniture, strollers, and toys. Yardsale-ing can be a fun way to find amazing bargains if you have the time.

Price Match

Walmart almost makes price matching TOO easy! You don't even have to show them the ad!! Just browse your weekly ads (or use the Grocery Smarts database) and write down the best price for the items you want to buy… then buy them all at Walmart instead of going to 5 different stores! (Keep in mind that Walmart doesn't always carry the same brands that your local grocery stores do, so you may have to go to Harmons to get the Organic Valley milk deal or Fresh Market for the Langers juice deal. They do match store brand for store brand though.)

Take advantage of money-back & money-off promotions

Catalinas, Register Rewards, +UP rewards: These print at the store if you purchase certain items, and are good towards your next purchase. Register Rewards are specific to Walgreens and +UPs are from Rite Aid; Catalinas can be found at any grocery store but are most common at Smith's/Kroger stores.
Buy X number of products, Get X dollars off: This is something Smith's does regularly. For example, Annie's Mac n Cheese and Ronzoni
Rebates: Lots of stores and manufacturers offer rebates, and these can save you TONS of money. Rite Aid has a great rebate program that is super simple to complete online, as does Staples. I usually get my printer paper and a lot of office supplies for free after rebate.

Play the "Drugstore Game"

This definitely takes some time, practice, and patience, but can save you THOUSANDS on toiletries and medicine. I never pay for body wash, toothpaste, razors, or deodorant thanks to the "drugstore game". Basically, spend a little out of pocket up front, but after rebates and Register Rewards/+UPs, you'll get lots of items for free… and sometimes even MAKE a little money!

Money Saving Monday - Crazy About Coupons!

2011-04-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

So last Monday I mentioned that a great way to save money is by using coupons effectively. (Notice the key word here is EFFECTIVELY!) You're not going to save money by clipping coupons, taking them to Walmart, and buying Kraft marshmallows or French's mustard because the generic Great Value brand will still probably be cheaper.

The way you can save LOTS of money is combining a sale with coupons and money back promotions. Here's a quick example of how this can work...

Smith's (Kroger) had Ronzoni pasta on sale for 99 cents a box.
These boxes of pasta were included in their "Buy 10, Save $5" promotion (meaning if you bought 10 participating items, $5 would automatically be deducted from your total). That brought the cost per box down to 49 cents.
I had several coupons for $1 off 2 boxes of Ronzoni pasta, which meant I got lots of pasta for FREE!

There are lots of blogs out there that will walk you through how to get these kind of deals each week. Some of my favorites are UtahDealDiva.com, PassionatePennyPincher.com, and MoneySavingMom.com.

Here are my tips for getting started with coupons:

5 Steps to Getting Started with Couponing

1. Start collecting coupons!

· There are tons of FREE coupons you can print online, and you can even earn points towards gift cards for printing and redeeming coupons. Sign up for a Swagbucks account then go here to print coupons and earn 10 points for every coupon you redeem. (For every 450 points you earn, you can get a $5 amazon.com gift card!) Also, sign up for an account at mypoints.com and print more coupons here. For every 10 coupons you print and redeem in a month, you’ll earn 25 points.

· If you live along the Wasatch Front, sign up to have a free set of coupons and weekly circulars delivered to your door at MoneyBagUtah.com

· Load coupons to your store loyalty card at Kroger.com, shortcuts.com, and pgesaver.com

· Keep an eye out when you’re shopping… you can often find coupons on grocery store displays for free.

· If you’re willing to pay for coupons, you can always buy the Sunday paper. Watch for flyers from the newspaper corporations for special deals. I was able to get 2 copies of the weekend edition of the paper for around $28 per year each. It went up to close to $50 when I renewed this year, but even spending 50 cents to a dollar per issue of the Sunday paper is worth it if you’re serious about couponing.

2. Get organized!

There are many methods to organizing coupons. Some people recommend the clipless method, which I think is great when you’re starting out. If you don’t have too many coupons, a plastic accordion file will probably work great. Once you accumulate a lot of coupons though, you’ll probably want to consider a coupon box (similar to what I use) or coupon binder.

3. Create a budget and stick to it!

Using a calculator and paying with cash are great ways to make sure you stick to your budget. Take it from the Utah Deal Diva… “It’s very easy to jump into couponing and spend $100 MORE each month than you normally do! Resist the urge to go to the store 4 times a week! I actually suggest you use cash to pay for your groceries for at least a few months. When the money’s gone- you’re done! I pass up sales all the time. If it’s on sale for a great price once, trust me- it WILL happen again!”

4. Use GrocerySmarts.com!

This site takes most of the work out of planning your shopping trip by listing weekly sales by store, showing which coupons to combine with the sale (along with links to print many of the coupons), and ranks how good of a deal it is.

5. Subscribe to couponing blogs!

Learn from the pros and be the first to hear about special coupons, freebies, and other amazing deals. I already mentioned a few of my favorites above, and I plan on posting a list of all my favorite blogs and websites next week... so stay tuned!

My Munchkin's Birth Story

2011-04-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to have my second little munchkin soon and I realized that I've never documented the birth story of my first little munchkin. We're having a just-want-to-lay-in-bed-and-cuddle day today, so I figure this is the perfect time to reminisce about the beautiful birth of my first baby...

When I first became pregnant, I knew I wanted to give birth in a birth center. My uncle had told me about how his wife gave birth to their daughters in water at a birth center, and it sounded fabulous! I was so happy when I found out that my insurance covered a birth center not too far from my house; I was not so happy when I found out, at 30 weeks pregnant, that my insurance would be dropping the one and only midwife who delivered at the birth center one month before I was due.

My midwife said that if I had to deliver at a hospital, the University Hospital was a great one. They were the only certified "Baby Friendly " hospital in the state, and she said they were very supportive of midwives and of natural birth.

So at 32 weeks pregnant, I had my first check-up at the midwifery clinic at University Hospital. We were all surprised to discover that I was already 80% effaced, and I was consequently placed on bedrest. Over the following four weeks, I had at least four false alarms, when I was sure I was in labor, but thankfully wasn't.

I was told I had to make it to 36 weeks in order to deliver with a midwife (rather than an obstetrician) at the hospital. At exactly 36 weeks I went back to work, because we had a big international event I was responsible for. I spent from about 6 am till 10 pm on my feet that day. Then I came home and celebrated the end of the 4-week pelvic rest my midwife had ordered :)

I'm not sure if I over did it physically or if my body and my baby just knew the time was right, but I awoke to a gush of water at 4:20 am. When I told my hubby that my water broke, he said "Are you sure?" I was sure my water had broken at least two other times before, but at the hospital they determined that I had just wet myself. This time, there was no question. I knelt on the bed and you could HEAR the fluid gushing out!

So we started to get ready to go to the hospital. My contractions didn't feel any stronger than Braxton-Hicks contractions, so we kind of took our time. We pulled out the video camera to record a little something before we left, only to discover that it was broken! It would record audio but not video... not good!

We hurried to finish getting ready so we could run by Walmart (the only store we figured would be open at 6:30 in the morning) on the way to the hospital. I stayed in the car, sitting on a big blue IKEA bag so I wouldn't soak the seat in my car. The first Walmart didn't have what we were looking for so we headed to another. We were in no hurry, because I was still feeling fine... the only thing that made me feel a little uncomfortable was sitting in soaked jeans!

We finally got to the hospital around 8 am, and even though my jeans were visibly soaked down to my calves, they stuck me in triage for about a half hour to make sure I was really in labor.

I was moved to Labor & Delivery around 9 am and given an IV for the strep B antibiotics. It took about a half hour to receive my full dose, and then my IV was capped so I could move to the tub. The thing that was most disappointing about having to deliver in a hospital was that I wouldn't be able to have a water birth. Luckily I was able to get one of the two rooms with a tub to labor in.

By the time I was done with the IV antibiotics and able to get out of bed, my contractions were strong enough that I had to focus thru them. I labored on a birth ball and on the toilet while the midwife, Sarah, filled my tub. She was so sweet and brought lavender essential oils for the bath to help me relax.

I was a little nervous about who would end up delivering my baby (yet another drawback to not being able to deliver at a birth center with only one practicing midwife!) The midwifery clinic at the hospital had 9 or 10 midwives in rotation for deliveries. I had exams with two of the midwives before going into labor, and had met a couple more when I had gone to the hospital with false labor. I had met Sarah one of the times I was in false labor, but had only talked to her briefly. I remember my first impression was that she looked way too young to be delivering babies! She ended up being wonderful though. She had a very calming aura about her and I felt totally at ease around her.

I don't really remember how long I labored in the tub... time really seemed to fly by thru the whole labor. I could definitely feel my contractions but they didn't really bother me. I knew they were bringing my baby closer to me and I just couldn't wait to hold her!

Pushing was probably my favorite part. I knew that it meant that I was just moments away from meeting my baby girl! I remember screaming a lot as I was pushing (which I was kind of embarrassed about), but then having a nice long recovery between each contraction. I remember feeling more happiness and excitement, and gratitude towards the people who were assisting me in labor, than pain.

The pushing phase took a little longer than I think my midwife expected. She kept telling me "One more push, and she'll be here!"... but it took at least a dozen pushes after that! After about 45 minutes of pushing, our baby girl finally slipped into her daddy's arms (with the midwife's assistance, of course) and we discovered why it had taken so long for her to work her way out... she was born with her hand on her face! (Not surprising, since her hands were always by her face in the ultrasound images!)

I really can't even begin to describe the euphoria I felt when they finally put my baby in my arms. I was in awe at the beautiful, perfect child we had created. I was so grateful that my labor and our baby's delivery went so perfectly according to plan (especially after the "pre-term labor" scares!) And we were shocked when we discovered that our technically premature baby tipped the scales at almost 7 lbs 2 ounces!

I guess it just goes to show you that estimated due dates are truly an ESTIMATION! Apparently, I cook babies fast :)

One of the great things about delivering in a "baby-friendly" hospital is that they understand the importance of bonding between mother and baby. Sarah put our baby on my chest immediately after she was born, and left her there for a good half hour or more before the she or the nurse touched her again. My hubby and I were able to bond with our sweet little munchkin as I delivered the placenta. After the umbilical cord stopped pulsing, my husband was able to clamp and cut it, and we were able to figure out the whole nursing thing while Sarah stitched up the two tiny battle wounds I ended up with. (I remember that getting stitched up seemed to hurt the worst of all... the local anesthetic didn't seem to work, and pain without a purpose just hurts!)

I can't remember if they weighed our munchkin before or after we had tried nursing (so that may have added an ounce). I just remember I thought it was cool that they let us have time to bond with our little angel before they did anything else. I also thought it was really need that they didn't take her away to bathe her right away... they allowed her vernix to be absorbed, which was really important to me. (To understand why, check out this article: http://www.birthresourcenetwork.org/resources/89-does-your-baby-really-need-a-bath , specifically the second-to-last paragraph!) When it was finally time to bathe our little one, a nurse brought in a little tub of water and supplies and showed daddy how to do it :)

It was so precious watching my sweet hubby care for his baby girl!

Probably the worst thing about delivering our baby at a hospital was trying to recover while nurses came in poking and prodding me every hour or so. Between the constant check ups, a bed that kept randomly inflating and deflating on its own, and the noise from the remodeling going on all over the hospital, I barely got any sleep that night and couldn't wait to go home the next day! I think we managed to make it out the door exactly 24 hours after our baby was born.

The next day, I felt great! I had read that one of the benefits of a natural delivery was a quick recovery, but I wasn't expecting to feel back to normal as soon as I did. The day after we got home, I was out running errands and even popped in to work for a bit. I think I was still on an endorphin high from delivering my munchkin! (Did you know endorphins have an effect 200 times that of morphine?!)

So needless to say, I'm definitely planning another natural birth. I've been studying Hypnobirthing this time around and find it fascinating! "Hypnobirthing" is really all about teaching yourself to relax... not so much about hypnotizing yourself. By staying relaxed and not allowing yourself to be afraid, I truly believe you can avoid most (if not ALL) of the pain of labor.

For more information about the benefits of natural childbirth, check out this article, by Judith Lothian, the Chair of the Lamaze International Certification Council. And if you're not sure you have what it takes for a drug-free birth (YOU DO), definitely check out Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, by world-renowned midwife, Ina May Gaskins. When it comes to reminding us of our natural abilities as women, this is hands-down the most empowering book I've ever read!

Having a natural birth is such an amazing, empowering experience and I can't wait to do it again!!

Money Saving Monday!

2011-04-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted this blog to be an "Attachment Parenting"/"Natural Parenting" resource, so I sometimes have my qualms about posting money saving deals on here. But the truth is, my obsession with getting deals and saving money is a big part of who I am, and I feel like it's one of the main things I do that enables me to be a full-time (happy hippie) homemaker. (Incidentally, the one money-saving post I wrote last year is also one of the most popular posts on my blog, so apparently it's something other people want to read about!)

So I've decided to start posting some of my money saving tips each Monday. Call me crazy for committing to blog WEEKLY just before my 2nd baby is due, but I'll let you in on a little secret... I've actually already written five posts :) I'm going to be presenting a "Super Savings Strategies" class for my local chapter of MOMS Club International tomorrow and I have prepared 6 pages of handouts! I figure it should be pretty easy to just copy and paste those handouts into my blog each Monday!!

For my first post I wanted to share some tips that I think EVERYONE can benefit from, whether you want to get in to "couponing" or not. Depending on your current shopping habits, you should be able to save at least 25% of your grocery bill just by following these 10 tips.

10 Simple Strategies for Saving Big!

Image courtesy o5com

1. Figure out your starting point.

How much are you spending on groceries, toiletries, diapers, and everything else for your home right now? Track spending using mint.com, a spending notebook, or cash envelope system.

2. Make a savings goal.

Set small, achievable short-term goals, as well as a long-term BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). Make sure you don’t try to do too much too soon (like save 50% your first month.) You’ll end up discouraged and probably burned out! Reaching small goals will give you the encouragement and motivation to keep working towards that big goal!

3. Know when to stock up!

What do you regularly pay for a pound of cheese? An ounce of toothpaste? A diaper? Figure out the regular cost per unit (ounce, pound, gallon, etc.) of the 20 items you buy most often. Once you know the price you normally pay for something, you’ll be able to recognize a great deal and stock up so you never have to pay full price! (GrocerySmarts.com ranks things according to a 5-star stock-up scale which can be helpful… though I often disagree with some of their ratings.)

4. PLAN!

(Image & free download by issasarza.com)

· Plan weekly menus based off what’s on sale and what you already have on hand. THIS WILL SAVE YOU SO MUCH TIME, MONEY AND STRESS! You can avoid the evening rush to the closest (and probably most expensive) store to grab something for dinner, and stop throwing away money on spoiled food! (Use the “Search by Ingredient” feature on food.com to find recipes using ingredients you already have in your pantry, fridge, or freezer.)

· Plan what you’re going to buy: Make a shopping list, and stick to it!

· If you plan well you shouldn’t have to go shopping more than once or twice a week, which will save you time and gas!

5. Don’t be loyal to just one store!

But don’t spend all day driving to every store in town either. Use GrocerySmarts.com to see what’s on sale at all your local stores. Sometimes it’s worth it to go to a few different stores (especially if you’re playing the Drugstore Game). Sometimes it’s best just to price match at WalMart or go to Winco!

6. Cook from scratch as much as possible… it’s less expensive and better for your health!

Avoid MSG by making your own taco and fajita seasonings. Double your dinner recipe and freeze half of it so you have a quick meal for those days you don’t have time to prepare a meal from scratch. Avoid excessive sodium in canned beans by cooking large batches of dried beans and freeze in 2 cup portions. Baby food is especially overpriced… it’s so much cheaper and healthier to make your own!

Image courtesy Cascadian Farm

7. Eat less meat!

Use meat as a garnish rather than a main course by preparing stirfrys, shishkabobs, and casseroles. Add beans and rice to your taco meat. Replace half of your ground beef with TVP. Consider preparing a vegetarian meal once a week.

8. Pay attention to portions and practice portion control… this can help shrink your grocery budget as well as your waist line!

9. Eat what’s in season, and learn how to preserve fruits and veggies.

Canning is great if you can afford the supplies or know someone who has them. Otherwise, consider blanching and freezing.

(Image courtesy sleepyneko)

10. Learn to effectively use coupons. (More on this next week!)

So there you have it... my top 10 tips to start saving money on your grocery budget! I tried to keep my explanations brief, because in my opinion there's nothing worse than verbose blog posts. Please email me if you have any questions or need more detailed advice.

It's days like these that I'm so glad I'm still nursing!

2011-02-22T17:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, my little munchkin started showing signs of a cold. She was coughing and had a runny nose, and she just wanted to nurse and be held. So this is how we spent most of the evening...

and most of the day today...

I'm so thankful that even though I'm 6 months pregnant, my body is able to produce the milk she needs. In fact, I'm not sure if it's due to my colostrum coming in or my body responding to my toddler's needs, but I've had a greater milk supply the past 2 days than I have since I got pregnant. I'm so glad that I'm able to give my toddler not only an immunity boost, but also the comfort she craves when she's sick.

Did you know that a child's immune system isn't fully developed until she's 6 years old? I learned a really interesting fact on the La Leche League website that I just had to share... "Nursing also allows your baby (toddler) to give germs to you so that your immune system can respond and can synthesize antibodies! This means that if your baby has come in contact with something which you have not, (s)he will pass these germs to you at the next nursing; during that feeding, your body will start to manufacture antibodies for that particular germ. By the time the next feeding arrives, your entire immune system will be working to provide immunities for you and your baby." How cool is that?! It's nice to know that I can literally nurse my little ones back to health!

Boba Baby Carrier Review

2011-02-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

So I came to the realization a couple of months ago that sooner or later I would have to find a new way to "wear" my toddler... if not because of a growing belly, then because I will soon have a new little one who will need to be worn close to my chest.

I started seeing ads for a new type of soft-structured carrier in Mothering Magazine, called a Boba. It's made by the same company that makes the Sleepy Wrap, and I think everyone knows how much I LOVE my Sleepy Wrap! If only there was a quick, easy way to tie your toddler on your back using a wrap... I'd probably never look for another carrier!

I had tried an Ergo early last summer, but ended up selling it to a friend. So many of my friends had raved about them, but I never seemed to be able to get it to fit comfortably. It was hard for me to buckle the top clasp when I was wearing my little one on the front, and I always ended up with intense pain along my spine and between my shoulder blades when I wore it. And by the time I tried the Ergo, I had so much practice tying a baby wrap that it was actually faster for me to put on a wrap than the Ergo!

Still, I wanted something that would allow me to quickly and easily carry my toddler on my back (something less bulky and heavy than my hiking backpack). So I checked out http://www.bobababycarrier.com/. Their website is great because they have thorough comparisons of the types of baby carriers, and they specifically compare the Boba to the Ergo. Some of the differences that really sold me on the Boba are these:

The height of the Boba is 3 inches higher than the Ergo. This allows it to cling to and support the child's entire back, bringing the child and center of gravity closer to you.
The Ergo is 14 inches wide from top to bottom, while the Boba is 13 inches in the seat and 17 inches in the middle to hug your child. Not only does this allow you to keep small babies closer to you, it also provides more privacy while nursing in the carrier.
The top of the Boba is rounded, which according to the manufacturer, "envelops and pulls child's entire back close to your body"; whereas the Ergo's "straight top may pull baby closer with horizontal line of pressure against toddler's back." Translation: it's more comfortable for the toddler.
It has foot straps! According to the manufacturer, the foot straps "provides a place to rest bigger legs, improves circulation, no pressure on nerves. Pelvis tilts under, hip sockets fill out, spine aligns properly in toddler." What they don't mention is that having the toddler properly positioned and aligned with her feet in the foot straps makes her feel almost weightless! It's really amazing how much heavier "dead weight" is than supported weight!!

So I decided to give the Boba a try, and I'm really glad I did! It's really comfortable for me and my toddler, and super convenient. Now that my toddler is two, most of the time she'd rather walk. But for those times she falls asleep in her carseat on the way to the store, it's nice to have something I can quickly pull out and put on so she can stay asleep while I shop! It's also nice to be able to wear her on my back when she's awake, because she never wants to sit in the shopping cart!!

The only drawback I can see to the Boba is that it probably wouldn't fit well for anyone over 6 feet tall or with really broad shoulders. It's just about stretched to the max on my husband. When comparing the Boba to the Ergo, the Boba website states "Since the back is higher, the shoulder straps begin higher on the wearers back. They don't sit as far apart on the shoulders of the wearer. Weight distribution is better distributed through the shoulders, the whole back and the waist of the wearer. [Which is probably why I found it more comfortable than the Ergo.] Ergo's straps sit wider on the wearer's shoulders which may be better for those with wider frames." I definitely think that most women would find the Boba more comfortable than the Ergo though, because of the fact that the shoulder straps begin higher and sit closer together on your shoulders.

Another great thing about the Boba is that you can occasionally find it 40% off! (Ergos never seem to go on sale!) I was able to get mine 40% off on Black Friday, and apparently they were 40% off on Zulily.com a couple of weeks ago. And if you hurry, you can get 40% off the Boba Classic Collection thru Monday, February 21 thru many retailers worldwide! That makes it only $60!! (If you miss this sale, I recommend becoming a friend of "Boba Carrier" on Facebook. That's how I found out about the Black Friday sale and the President's Day sale.)

I just realized I don't have any pictures of me with my munchkin in the Boba carrier. I'd take some now, but I loaned the carrier to a friend to try out. I made my hubby promise to snap a few pictures as soon as we get it back though, so stay tuned... because really, what's a blog without good pictures?!

A Season For Change

2010-11-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

Daylight Savings Time & shorter days + 30 degree weather & rain/sleet/snow outside = me wanting to stay wrapped up in a blanket all day.

This was kind of a blessing in disguise though, as I've been meaning to update my blog for quite a while. You may notice I've uploaded a few more babywearing videos. I've also added "pages" to my blog (Attachment Parenting, Babywearing, Breastfeeding, and Natural Childbirth) and a cool little feature that suggests other blog posts you might enjoy. Hopefully this will make my blog a little easier to navigate and make it a better Attachment Parenting resource.

P.S. If anyone knows how to center the tabs for the pages I created, please fill me in! I hate having it off-centered!! Maybe I need to just come up with one more page topic...

How to Wear Your Toddler: the Hip Carry (using the Sling Tie)

2010-11-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

Here's probably the quickest way to wear your child in a baby wrap. In my experience, this isn't the most comfortable way to wear your child, and probably not the best choice if you have a super squirmy little one. It is great for when you need to quickly run into the store though! Again, I probably wouldn't use this carry for a baby under 9 months of age or one who can't sit safely on her own.

How to Tie a Baby Wrap: The Sling Tie

2010-11-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love most about baby wraps is how versatile they are. Here's a quick and easy way to tie your baby wrap into a sling. This works great for carrying a toddler in a hip carry. (I would not use this carry for a baby under 9 months of age.)

A couple of important tips for the sling tie... Make sure when you tie your wrap that the fabric doesn't twist or bunch, as this will cause uncomfortable pressure points. Also, make sure the fabric is spread wide across the shoulder to help distribute the toddler's weight.

How to Wear Your Toddler: Quick & Easy Tie with Hug Hold

2010-10-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

This is the tie I use when I'm out running errands and my toddler has fallen asleep in her carseat. The wrap I use is about 10 - 12 inches shorter than my other wraps, which is great because the ends don't drag on the ground when I tie it. It's also nice in the summer because you don't have as much fabric wrapped around you and your baby. This wrap is best with older babies or toddlers, because it's not as supportive as the Basic Baby Pouch. Notice that I demonstrate how to tie the wrap and place my toddler in the wrap in less than 90 seconds (and it would probably take less than 60 seconds if I wasn't trying to perfectly demonstrate what I was doing), so this tie is great for those who may think using a baby wrap takes too long.

New babywearing videos!

2010-10-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

I recorded a few videos on ways to wear a toddler in a baby wrap about a month ago, and I FINALLY got a chance to edit them. (I have to use my hubby's computer to edit them and it seemed like when ever I had the time available for editing, the hubby was either not home or he was using his computer.) I was able to upload one, but for some reason now I can get any more to upload. Hopefully the hubby can help me upload the videos in the morning!

Anyway, I once I get all the videos uploaded, I hope they show that wearing your toddler can be comfortable and convenient. Baby wearing is NOT just for babies! I've found that wearing my toddler is the best way to keep her happy and close by when we're shopping. (She usually refuses to sit in the shopping cart.) It's also super convenient because if we're out at nap time, she just nurses herself to sleep while I shop. I really don't think I could survive without my babywraps!

How to Wear Your Toddler: The Hug Hold

2010-10-24T22:35:00.000-07:00

This video shows how to wear your toddler in a Hug Hold with your baby wrap tied in a Basic Baby Pouch. I think this hold is the most comfortable way to wear your toddler, and is especially good if you have a squirmer, because it's very supportive.

How to make 3 baby wraps out of a 60" wide piece of fabric

2010-09-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

In my tutorial on how to make a baby wrap, I used a 45" wide piece of fabric. If you buy a 60" wide piece of fabric, it can be a little more difficult to cut, but usually more cost effective because you end up with three baby wraps instead of two. Check out this great tutorial on how to make baby wraps out of a 60" wide piece of fabric.

How to Wear Your Baby: Infant Hug Hold

2010-09-06T23:58:00.000-07:00

This video demonstrates the Infant Hug Hold. This type of hold works best with older babies, who can support their own heads. Please refer to the safety tips on the "Newborn Cradle Hold," as they all apply to this type of hold as well.

How to Wear Your Baby: Newborn Cradle Hold

2010-09-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a video demonstrating the Newborn Cradle Hold. This is the most common way I wore my baby for the first 3 months, and we still use this type of carry now when she wants to nurse or sleep. A couple of key things to keep in mind when wearing your baby in this type of hold:

Make sure your baby's airway remains open. If your baby slumps down low, with her chin against her chest, her airway can become compromised. In the cradle hold, the baby should look just like when she is cradled in your arms.
Keep the baby's head high, next to your shoulder. You should be able to kiss your baby's forehead by simply dropping your chin (without stretching). This will help ensure that the baby's airway remains open, and that you can hear your baby breathing.
Make sure the baby's bottom sits at navel level or higher. If the baby sits too low, she is more likely to become slumped and have her airway compromised. Also, it will probably be uncomfortable for you because after a while you will feel strain in your back and shoulders.
Finally, to make sure the wrap is comfortable for you, make sure the fabric is spread wide across your back and wide over your shoulders.

How to Tie a Baby Wrap: The Basic Baby Pouch

2010-09-06T21:51:00.000-07:00

At long last, I've completed my tutorial on how to tie the Basic Baby Pouch (BBP). It's not perfect, but I've spent too long trying to make a perfect video, and finally realized that this is as good as it's gonna get :) Stay tuned for more tutorials on ways to "wear" your baby in the BBP, as well as other ways to tie your baby wrap.

In case you're starting to think I'm the biggest slacker on the planet...

2010-08-23T23:28:00.000-07:00

I really had good intentions of uploading videos of my favorite ways to wear my baby/toddler when I got back from Idaho last week, but we ran into a small problem... My hubby left his memory card in his parents computer in Idaho. He ordered a new one, but the website he ordered from had a 5-year old address on file, so we just found out today that it was returned to the retailer "undeliverable as addressed" :( As soon as we get a memory card, I promise to make those videos! In the meantime, I discovered a great Facebook page dedicated to babywearing safety.

(This is NOT a good demonstration of a safely tied baby wrap, but I thought it was kinda cute anyway!)

How to Make a Baby Wrap!

2010-08-12T00:55:00.000-07:00

So I've been promising for weeks to upload a tutorial on how to make a baby wrap. I've finally finished taking and editing photos of the process (making a wrap is really SO SIMPLE... I can't believe it's taken me this long, but life with a toddler is full of interruptions! :) Anyway, without further ado, here's my advice on how to make a baby wrap...

STEP 1: Choose your fabric

There are several things to consider when choosing your fabric, such as how thick and warm, or light and breathable, or how stretchy or taught you want it. I have experimented with several different types of fabric, and here is what I've found:

100% cotton knit: Cotton knits don't have much stretch. This is can be a good thing if you're wearing a heavy toddler, because the fabric "gives" less and is more supportive. On the flip side, the less it gives, the less comfortable it tends to be. Another great thing about 100% cotton though is that it is very light and breathable. I tend to use my 100% cotton wraps in the summer.

100% cotton gauze: I personally haven't made a gauze wrap, but a friend from La Leche League made one because she said it is the most breathable fabric you can use for a wrap. In her opinion, gauze is great because you can even wear it in the water. The drawbacks to gauze is that it's not as stretchy or comfortable as some other fabrics, and you also have to finish the edge with a surger (which I don't have).

95% cotton, 5% spandex knit: In my opinion, this is the most comfortable fabric. It has the perfect amount of stretch to be supportive, yet comfortable. The only drawback is that it is generally pretty thick and can be really hot in the summer. However, I've found that the cotton/spandex rib knits are lighter and more breathable than the standard cotton/spandex knit.

60% cotton, 40% polyester: This fabric is softer than 100% cotton, but not as stretchy as a cotton/spandex blend. It's also more breathable than some cotton/spandex blend fabrics, but I'd have to say that overall it's probably my least favorite fabric to use.

STEP 2: Determine how much fabric you need

The first wrap I ever used was a Sleepy Wrap, which is 5.5 yards long and 20 inches wide. I found that the width was great, but it was a little long. Moby Wraps are even longer... according to different search results I found online, Moby wraps are between 6 and 6.5 yards long and between 24 and 30 inches wide. That's a LOT of fabric in my opinion. It's no wonder so many people feel that Moby Wraps are difficult to tie and uncomfortable to wear!

I've found that for me, 5 yards long is the perfect length, and that 20 - 23 inches wide is the proper width. (To give you a frame of reference for determining how much fabric you might need, I'm about 5' 3" and usually wear a size 4.) The width of the fabric I use varies depending on how wide the bolt of fabric is. Bolts of fabric are usually 45" or 60" wide, so if I get one that is 45" wide, I cut it in half and if I get one that's 60" wide, I cut it in thirds.

STEP 3: Fold and cut

This part is really simple, but I took some pictures, since I sometimes have a hard time explaining things...

Fold the fabric in half, length-wise. (Yes, my craft room is tiny... I guess it's not much longer than about 2.5 yards, which is why you see the arm of the chair I'm standing on.)

(Notice that this fabric is 45" wide)

There should be a crease thru the middle of the fabric, where it was folded in half and wrapped around the bolt.

Cut along the crease until you have 2 pieces of fabric that are 5 yards long (or however long you need).

This next step is optional... There will probably be a funny edge along the outside edge of the fabric with little holes in it. I cut this off so that both sides of the fabric have the same style edge. (That style being, roughly-cut-by-dull-scissors style.)

(And please don't pay attention to the gross, cheap carpet... we're replacing it with wood soon!)

Next, you'll want to take one of the wraps and fold it in half length wise, then fold it in half again. (So for me, that leaves me with a pile of fabric a little over a yard long.)

On the top of your fabric pile you should have what will be the two tail-ends of your baby wrap. If you don't want to feel a little "thick in the middle", I recommend tapering these two ends.

I do this by sliding a cutting mat underneath the ends (and on top of what will be the middle of your baby wrap) and marking the middle of the width of the fabric on the tail-end. I line up my yard stick (mine isn't quite a yard) with the mark on the tail end and angle it towards the opposite end of the fabric. Since my yard stick isn't quite long enough, I have to draw the first half of my line, then move the ruler to the opposite end of the fabric to finish off the line.

Do the same thing on the other end, so that when you're done you have a nice little triangle.

(It helps if you have a toddler who likes to color... and if you use washable marker!)

Now, just cut along your lines.

I like to cut both ends together so that they are the same, or at least close to it.

STEP 4: Optional finishing touches

It is helpful to to have a quick and easy way to find the center of your wrap. I've done a few different things...

Make a loop from a scrap of ribbon, folded in half and sewn straight across:

This is great, because you can hang the wrap from a hook by the loop. It's also a quick and easy way to be able to find the middle of your wrap.

You can sew a big pocket across the back of your wrap.

This is nice because it adds a bit of detail to the wrap. You could also put a couple of diapers in the pouch, so that you wouldn't have to carry a diaper. A word of advice though... I found that this particular pocket is WAY TOO BIG! It took away too much of the stretch in part of the wrap you want the stretchiest, and diapers and cell phones get lost in a pocket this big. I think it's best if the pocket is about as wide as your child's back. Also, I sewed a smaller pocket inside the big pocket so that my phone wouldn't get lost.

My preferred type of pocket is a small one on the inside of the wrap, like this one:

After making this one though, I discovered two things:

1) you need a flap on the top of your pocket to keep your phone from falling out

2) it helps if the pocket fabric is a different color from the wrap itself so that it doesn't blend in and so you can quickly find the middle of your wrap.

(I just realized this is a horrible picture, because the pocket doesn't blend in with the wrap, but the wrap blends in with the table!)

A few final thoughts...

I've noticed that Joann frequently has their knit fabrics on sale for around $4 a yard, so you should be able to make 2 to 3 wraps for $20 - $30 (depending on how many yards of fabric you need, and whether you get a 45" or 60" bolt). Where I live, Joann doesn't carry 100% cotton knit fabric... I have to go to Hobby Lobby for that. Hobby Lobby, however, doesn't seem to carry cotton-spandex blend knits... I have to go to Joann for that.

I use different types of fabric depending on the weather and the way I'm going to tie my wrap. I have uploaded a few of my favorite ways to wear my baby and my toddler on my youtube channel. For more tips, tricks, and how-to's on baby wraps, check out bobafamily.com (formerly SleepyWrap) and gypsymama.com.

Am I Normal?

2010-08-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'm sure there are many things I do, or beliefs I have that are not considered "normal"... especially when it comes to parenting. However, I do think I'm normal in my desire to do what I feel is right for my child and to have some sort of validation that my parenting instincts are ok (i.e. not harmful or detrimental to my child's well being).

This is my first go at this parenting thing, and over the past few months I've been feeling a bit of pressure to change the way we parent our daughter at night. You see, until about a month ago our little girl had spent every night in bed with us, and she has yet to "sleep through the night". I have nursed her to sleep almost every night, and she still nurses all through the night. This normally isn't a problem... I feel like I get plenty of sleep and my husband and I love cuddling with our daughter all night. But my midwife had mentioned that I may need to night-wean her in order to get pregnant again, and my sweet husband was feeling like we needed to have a romantic getaway.

While the thought of having a romantic getaway sounded wonderful, I couldn't help but worry about how my toddler would handle it. I seriously couldn't fathom spending even 24 hours apart, since we had rarely been separated for more than a couple of hours. However, I figured if I was going to have to night wean in order to get pregnant anyway, I had better make some changes to our bedtime routine.

So we started having daddy try to rock her to bed, but that made everyone miserable... all she wanted was her mommy, and it broke our hearts to hear her scream and cry herself to sleep. One night we even left her with grandma, thinking it would be a good trial run for a weekend away. My mom was so sweet and agreed to let our little girl sleep with her all night. She said it went ok... our little munchkin fell asleep watching a movie and only woke up once during the night... but the 12 hours I was away from her was SO HARD!

I noticed that she seemed more clingy and anxious after these "trial runs" with daddy and grandma... she got to the point where she didn't want to cuddle with daddy at night, because she was afraid that meant mommy was leaving. We finally decided she's not ready and it's just not worth it to try and leave her overnight.

But this past weekend, when my hubby went to Vegas alone, for what was supposed to be a couples retreat with friends, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty and wonder if I was really doing what was best. Then I stumbled upon these two articles: "Mother-Toddler Separation," by Dr. George Wootan, M.D. and "When (& how) to leave children at night" by Hobo Mama (another mommy blogger). I'm pretty sure those were messages sent from above, because the wisdom and advice in those two articles were exactly what I needed at that time!

I found it very interesting that Dr. Wootan wrote "the need for mother is as strong in a toddler as the need for food, and that there is no substitute for mother. When he’s tired, hurt, or upset, he needs his mother for comfort and security." He also recommended, "A mother shouldn’t leave her child until about the age of three, when he has developed some concept of time. You’ll know this has begun to happen when he understands what “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” and “this afternoon” mean, and when your child voluntarily begins to spend more time away from you on his own accord." Now, I realize that is a BOLD statement, and a recommendation that not everyone can possibly follow. But it is a recommendation I can follow, and I'm happy to follow these doctor's orders!

So no, I'm probably not normal, and the way we've chosen to parent our child probably isn't considered normal by most people. But I take comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. There are other parents who believe that co-sleeping and nursing a toddler all night is perfectly ok and even GOOD for the child... who recognize that it can be traumatic for a toddler to be separated from her mother and that it's good for mother and child to be together as much as possible. I also recognize that every parent and child is different, and has their different personal space needs. But I think I'm finally comfortable with the fact that my little girl and I are VERY attached to each other and I'm not afraid to admit that I LOVE IT that way! :)

P.S. As a side note... this week, after two and a half years, I finally got a visit from "Aunt Flow" so it looks like we're not going to have to night wean after all :)

"When Breastfeeding isn't Easy"

2010-08-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid I came across as a little zealous and unsympathetic in some of the things I wrote last week regarding breastfeeding. I know that breastfeeding can be challenging, but it is important and worth the effort. For those of you who have struggled with breastfeeding, you may find this article encouraging... When Breastfeeding isn't Easy.

And if you are struggling with problems such as sore nipples, low milk supply, or mastitis, you may want to check out the Breastfeeding Support Kit by Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics. I personally haven't tried these products myself, but I've heard great things about them. Whole Foods and Babies R Us carry Earth Mama Angel Baby products, and you can find other local retailers on the EMAB website.

Best of luck and happy nursing!

World Breasfeeding Week!

2010-08-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I was visiting my local La Leche League’s blog and noticed that the first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week. I had never heard of such a thing, and thought that was great, but kind of wondered what had inspired such an event. Then I stumbled upon this blog post by Kristen Marie Toutges on Mothering.com and suddenly realized how important it is that we raise awareness and support of breastfeeding. Not only is it NORMAL for human babies to drink milk produced by their own species, it truly is the best form of nutrition for our babies!

Now before anyone gets offended… yes, I realize there are people who truly, for medical reasons, cannot breast feed. My heart aches for those mommies and babies. But I also believe that many women would be able to breastfeed successfully if they had more information and support. As my friend Caroline put it, “It seems like so many women give up on breastfeeding before they even give it a chance!”

I have tremendous respect for Caroline, because breastfeeding did not come easy for her. She overcame many obstacles… sore nipples, improper latch, you name it… but she stuck with it, and with the information and support from La Leche League she was able to successfully nurse her son until he weaned himself at 17 months.

But Caroline is definitely an exception. Most mothers give up all too quickly if their first attempts at breastfeeding are unsuccessful. According to the article “Case closed: Breast is best,” and written by Peggy O’Mara and published in the May/ June 2009 issue of Mothering magazine, data collected by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that “while74.2 percent of US mothers initiated breastfeeding in 2005, only 11.9 percent were exclusively breastfeeding at six months.” Keep in mind that six months of exclusive breastfeeding is the absolute minimum length of time recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and according to O’Mara it is also the recommendation of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Blueprint For Action on Breastfeeding in Europe, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and the International Pediatric Association, to name a few! According to O’Mara, “Data from 86 countries indicate that the US is among only ten countries with breastfeeding initiation rates lower than 85 percent; 70 of the 86 countries have breastfeeding initiation rates at or over 90 percent.” Is it just me or are those statistics alarming?

Much of the valuable information in O’Mara’s article was written to refute some of misinformation in the article “The Case Against Breast-Feeding,” written by Hanna Rosin and published in the April 2009 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. In her article, Rosin made such bold, ignorant statements as “all the talk about the benefits of breastfeeding is just ‘magical thinking’” and that we have a “national obsession with breast milk as a liquid vaccine.” In response, Peggy cited “Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries,” an extensive and thorough study published in 2007. According to the medical literature reviewed in this study, children who have been breastfed have reduced risks of contracting the following:

Acute otitis media (middle ear infection)
Nonspecific gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in diarrhea)
Severe infections of the lower respiratory tract (such as RSV)
Atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema)
Asthma
Obesity
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Childhood leukemia
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

And babies aren’t the only ones who benefit from breastfeeding. The study also found that women who breastfed have reduced risks of the following:

Type 2 diabetes
Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Postpartum depression

Is that to say that no woman who has breastfed has experienced postpartum depression or no child who has breastfed has ever gotten an ear infection? Definitely not!! But if you could reduce all those risks, while at the same time saving yourself a small fortune in the cost of formula, why wouldn’t you?

Some people argue that it’s too inconvenient and time-consuming. It’s true that formula keeps babies full longer, and that it’s socially acceptable to bottle feed at anytime in any place. However, I found that there was nothing more convenient than having prepared liquid nutrition available at any time that didn’t take up any extra room in my diaper bag. By wearing my baby in a baby wrap while I was out grocery shopping or at home vacuuming and doing laundry, I was able to nurse hands free, and discreetly!

(Here’s a picture of my toddler having breakfast as we were waiting to march in a parade with our local chapter of MOMS Club International.)

Now that I’m nursing a toddler, I’m often asked how long I intend to breastfeed. My views on the subject are in accordance with what WHO, UNICEF, and (of course, my favorite doctor) Dr. Sears, recommend: As long as it is mutually enjoyable.

Ideally, I would like to let my daughter wean herself, as the research I have done indicates that is the best option for her emotional stability and security. I’m sure the majority of the people out there think I’m a weirdo for nursing a toddler, but for good or bad, I tend not to worry too much about what other people think! It was comforting though, to read this article by Diane Wiessinger at http://www.normalfed.com/ which states:

IF YOUR CHILD WEANS WHEN SHE IS READY, you can feel confident that you have met your baby's physical and emotional needs in the most normal, healthy way. In cultures where there is no pressure to wean, children tend to nurse for at least two years. The World Health Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding through toddlerhood: "Breastmilk is an important source of energy and protein, and helps to protect against disease during the child's second year of life." Our biology seems geared to a weaning age of between 2 1/2 and 7 years, and it just makes sense to build our children's bones from the milk that was designed for them. Your milk provides antibodies and other protective substances for as long as you continue nursing, and families of nursing toddlers often find that their medical bills are lower than their neighbors' for years to come. Research indicates that the longer a child nurses, the higher his intelligence. Mothers who nurse long-term have a still lower risk of developing breast cancer. Children who were nursed long-term tend to be very secure, and are less likely to suck their thumbs or carry a blanket. Nursing can help ease both of you through the tears, tantrums, and tumbles that come with early childhood, and helps ensure that any illnesses are milder and easier to deal with. It's an all-purpose mothering tool you won't want to be without! Don't worry that your child will nurse forever. All children stop on their own, no matter what you do, and there are more nursing toddlers around than you might guess.

Again, my goal in writing this is not to make mothers feel guilty if they truly cannot breastfeed, but to encourage mothers to sincerely try to breastfeed for as long as possible. If I can help at least one mother to make it to that critical 6 month mark, it will be worth the chance that I may offend someone by what I have written.

I would suggest that every new mom attend a few La Leche League meetings before giving birth, so that she can be better prepared when first attempting to breastfeed. It is important to have a basic idea of how to make sure your baby is attached properly (to minimize nipple soreness and maximize milk flow) and how to know that your baby is getting enough milk (so you don’t let well-meaning doctors freak you out when the tell you the exact number of ounces of milk a baby should be consuming and how many hours apart feedings should be). Also, should you need assistance once your baby is born, La Leche League has trained lactation consultants available by phone 24 hours a day, at no cost.

So this World Breastfeeding Week, I’m going to be “loud and proud” in my support of breastfeeding and I encourage you to as well! Don't go hide in a dirty bathroom stall to feed your baby... the only way our society is going to become more comfortable with and supportive of breastfeeding is if we stop hiding it. (Not that I'm saying you need to actually expose your breast for the whole world to see... there are discreet ways to nurse in public.) Let's not be ashamed of using our breasts for their intended purpose. Let's do our part, not just to raise awareness of breastfeeding, but to help breastfeeding become the "norm" in our society!

Evidence of my coupon obsession...

2010-07-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may not know, I'm one of those crazy coupon ladies. I can't help myself... the euphoria that sets over me when I see a receipt showing 70 - 80% savings is kind of addictive! And I love having a hobby that saves -- rather than costs -- me money!!

I've used coupons for as long as I can remember. I always had one of those wallet-sized coupon organizers in my car or my bag. It was nice saving 50 cents here or a dollar or two there, but when I decided I wanted to quit my job to stay home full-time with my baby, I realized that I had to find a way to save more if we were going to be making less.

I used to watch the news every morning as I would get ready, and they had a segment each week in which a "coupon guru" would highlight the best deals of the week. I had seen the Smiths and Albertsons ads had "Buy 10, Save $5" promotions, but I figured they were a gimmick and would force you to spend more. But the coupon guru showed how combining coupons with sales and promotions could save you 50 - 70% off your bill.

It sounded like a great way to save money, so I started printing online coupons and scouring the ads... putting about an hour a day into clipping coupons and planning my shopping trips. (Fortunately, I had a baby who slept a lot, so I had a lot of extra time.) I was saving a lot, but I was also spending most of my free time clipping coupons and shopping!

As my little one got a little older, she started to grab at my coupons when we were out shopping and would fuss if we were out too long. Suddenly, spending all day trying to get the best deals wasn’t working, and I started to get frustrated and discouraged. That's when a friend of mine told me about Money Saving Mom. Right away I loved this blog! Not only did this mom sing praises of the book Miserly Moms (the book that convinced me it was possible to lose half our income and still survive), but she provided detailed information about how to get the best deals at Target, Walgreens, and Kroger stores. Thru her blog, I also found the local Utah blogs, Utah Deal Diva and Pinching Your Pennies. (For my out of state friends, Pinching Your Pennies also provides detailed information about the best deals at grocery stores in Idaho, Nevada, California, Washington, Arizona, Oregon, and Wyoming.)

Nowadays, I spend an hour a week clipping and organizing coupons and about an hour planning my shopping trips. (Planning what you are going to buy before you set foot in the grocery store will save you TONS of time and money!) I usually go shopping Sunday and Wednesday mornings and try not to go to more than two stores each day (still working on this one... sometimes the temptation to get amazing deals at more than two stores is just too great!)

Today I went to Smiths and Rite-Aid. Here's a picture of what I bought at Smith’s:

Smith’s was running a special coupon promotion where they rounded all coupons up to $1. I tried to take a picture of the receipt, but obviously it didn't work. My total before coupons was $24.01, but I only paid $3.77! That represents 84% savings!! So how did I do it? Here's a breakdown:

Safeguard hand soap: $1, used a $.50 coupon (rounded to $1) plus used a $.50 P&G e-coupon I loaded on to my Fresh Values card - FREE plus 50 cents overage!!
Crest Toothpaste: $1, used a $.75 coupon (rounded to $1) - FREE!
Old Spice body wash: $2.99, part of a Proctor and Gamble promotion that gave you $1 off per item if you bought 4 items, also had a buy-one-get-one free coupon and a $1 off 2 coupon - both FREE!
Gillette body wash: $2.99, also part of the P&G promotion that gave $1 off each item, plus used a $2 coupon - FREE!
Lady Speed Stick: $.88, used a $.50 coupon (rounded to $.88) - FREE!
Bounty Basic Paper Towel: $1.09, used a $.25 coupon, which was rounded up to $1 - paid .09 each
2 dozen large eggs: $1.19, on sale for $.79 each
Smiths cottage bread: $1.50 (the only item not on sale or eligible for coupon savings, but a great deal anyway!)

Now, lest you think I save 84% every time I shop, let's take a look at a more typical shopping trip... today's trip to Rite Aid.

I would have liked to have gone to Rite Aid on Sunday morning (that’s when their new ad starts), but the closest Rite Aid is about 10 miles from my house, and unless I'm going to MAKE at least $5 from shopping there, I'm not willing to go out of my way. (As a side note, I was able to make $11 last month from one shopping trip to Rite Aid! :-) I knew I had to go downtown today, and the downtown Rite Aid doesn't have as many coupon shoppers anyway, so I wasn't worried about them being sold out of everything by this morning. Luckily, the only deal I wasn't able to take advantage of was the Nivea Body Wash, which would have been free plus $1 overage. But I'm not sweatin' it, because (as you can see from the picture above) I'm well stocked on body wash!

So here's what I got:

I had to do 2 separate transactions, in order to maximize my coupons, but business was slow and the sweet cashier was more than happy to do so. The total for my first transaction came to $26.61, and after coupons and UP Rewards (a Rite Aid coupon printed at the bottom of the receipt, and good towards your next shopping trip), the total was $10.21 (62% savings). Here's the breakdown:

Luvs diapers: $16.99, used a $2.50 coupon and received a $2 UP Reward - final price: $12.49**
Raisen Bran: 2 for $4, used a $1 coupon and received a $1 UP Reward - final price: $2 for both**
Soft Soap hand soap: $1, used a $.50 coupon - final price: $.50**
Colgate toothpaste: $3, used a $1 coupon and received $3 UP Rewards - final price: FREE plus $1 overage!

**I also used a Rite Aid coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase that I received for registering my UP Rewards account online. This is why my final total was less than these three items combined.

The total for my second transaction came to $26.35, and after coupons, UP Rewards, and a rebate the total came to $7.35 (72% savings). The only thing different in this transaction than the last was that instead of buying the Raisen Bran, I bought a Reach toothbrush. It was on sale for $3.99 and Rite Aid was offering a $3 rebate and a $1 UP Reward. This made it free, but I also had a coupon for $1 off, so I ended up making money from buying the toothbrush! My hubby and I actually prefer using spin brushes, but homeless shelters are always in need of toothbrushes so I will gladly donate the toothbrush I made $1 off of. :-)

Well, hopefully that gives you all a better understanding of why I love coupons so much! Despite what you may have heard, you can actually save TONS of money with coupons and coupons are NOT just for processed junk foods!

Speaking of food, you may be wondering what we're eating this week, since the only thing edible in the pictures above are the eggs and bread. My neighbors have amazing gardens and have been keeping my crisper full of veggies. I stocked up on meat and fruits at Sunflower Farmers Market last week, and I bought milk, yogurt, cheese, and granola bars on my Sunday shopping trip (saved 76% on that trip!) I'll try and highlight one of my food shopping trips next week, but until then... go clip some coupons!

Looks like I'm heading to the library in the morning!

2010-07-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

I just discovered that Dr. Momma from the Peaceful Parenting blog has a store on Amazon.com with twelve pages of books she recommends! A few of the ones I'm going to be looking for at the library are Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's Brain , The Baby Bond: The New Science Behind What's Really Important When Caring for Your Baby, and The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution: Gentle Ways to Make Good-bye Easy from Six Months to Six Years (a topic I'm desperate to learn about right now!). Now all I need is a book recommendation for how to find time to read while raising an active toddler and/or how to speed read!

FINALLY...

2010-07-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

I have joined the world of mommy bloggers! I have been wanting to start a blog for quite some time... not because I especially enjoy writing or feel that I have much of a knack for it (you may want to stop reading now if you're hoping for one of those "witty", funny blogs), but because I wanted a place to share some of the things I have learned (and am currently learning) as a new mom.

I would have to say that my "go to" resource as a new mom is definitely The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears. I can't remember how I originally stumbled upon this book, but coincidentally, I was reading the book at my in-laws house during my first pregnancy and my mother-in-law said "Oh, I love that book! Dr. Sears was {my hubby's} pediatrician!" I'm so grateful that my MIL is a Dr. Sears lover, because his methods are a little controversial and it's wonderful to have family support rather than scorn when it comes to the way we parent our little munchkin.

We believe that a child won't be "spoiled" by being held too much; rather "Spoiling is what happens when you leave something (or some person) alone on the shelf -- it spoils." (Sears, 195) I am a strong advocate of baby wearing. It made adjusting to life as a new mom even easier than I expected, because I was able to get back in to the swing of things so quickly. My baby would sleep and nurse in the baby wrap while I did dishes, vacuumed, and went shopping. Even now, at 21 months, I normally carry my daughter in a baby wrap rather than pushing her in a cart or a stroller. (I plan to upload some tutorials on how to make and use a baby wrap, but in the mean time please visit http://www.gypsymama.com/using.htm for some wonderful video tutorials.)

We also strongly believe in co-sleeping and we love our family bed. As a new mom I never suffered the lack of sleep I had heard so many horror stories about, and I believe it is because of our choice to co-sleep. Sure, I had to wake up a few times a night with my newborn to nurse her and change her but I kept a diaper caddy next to my bed so I never had to leave my bed until morning. Babies sleep safely with their parents all over the world, and The Baby Book offers much advice on how to do so SAFELY! I've heard many friends say they're worried their baby will never want to sleep alone if they co-sleep as a baby, and while that's a bridge we haven't come to yet, I'm confident our munchkin won't be sleeping with us when she graduates high school. The Sears family successfully "weaned" six children from their bed, and my in-laws did as well, so when the time comes I know I'll have some great sources of advice and support. (And I'll be sure to blog about it too!)

Baby wearing and co-sleeping are just a couple of the aspects of attachment parenting I plan to write about on this blog. I definitely don't think I'm an expert in any of these areas, but I hope to be able to share my experiences, as well as provide links to articles and blogs written by REAL experts, in an effort to help other new parents who would like to learn more about attachment parenting.