Okay, Mother's Day is not until tomorrow, but happy early Mother's Day anyways! The sun is shining, a breeze is blowing, and it seems like it's going to be a beautiful week. I am so excited to share this Mother's Day with my stepmother. She is a wonderful woman who is so kind and loving to everyone she meets.
My little brother and I were discussing what we were going to do for our stepmom tomorrow. We're both feeling the economic crunch so we decided to get creative but cheap.
Wal-Mart has tote bags that come in sets of three that would be perfect for three little grandchildren to paint. The bags are around $6 for a set of three and you can buy a set of fabric paint or markers for under $10. Especially if you go to Michael's to get the paint and use the 60% off coupon that comes in the weekly mailer or the Sunday paper. These totes are the perfect size to throw in the car and use to go shopping or the the grocery store. That's three less plastic bags you would be bringing home.
We also decided to cook dinner at home for her. Several grocers are having sales on meats, seafood, and various fruits. Lobster tails are $5 a piece at one of the stores by our house so we're going fancy and cooking lobster. I don't know any restaurant that sells $5 tails. Strawberries make a great dessert and are on sale all over the place this weekend. Like Rachel suggested with the blackberries, put the berries in a bowl with some cream and you've got yourself a mighty fine dessert. Simple, elegant, and heartfelt.
Moms always seem to do everything. That's why they're superheroes, but this year, why don't you give her a coupon book for a gift? Ideas of coupons could be a coupon for doing the laundry, dishes, cooking dinner, or even a coupon for watching the kids for a few hours so mom can get some relax and recharge time. These coupons could be designed and printed at home for very inexpensive. Or better yet, just do the things with no coupons. Let mom sleep in and then wake up to clean laundry and a yummy breakfast. Again, those berries and cream would make a fantastic breakfast! (I keep going on about them because the berries are starting to be so fresh and fragrant and so delicious! Thanks Rachel for reminding me that it's berries and cream season!)
I think this Mother's Day is going to be a great one. I hope you all have a wonderful day and get lots of snuggles and loves! Happy Mother's Day!
Showing posts with label Alex Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alex Smith. Show all posts
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Summer break camps
Summer vacation is quickly coming upon us and I've been looking into several places to send my almost 5 year old son for classes. We are going to start homeschooling him this fall and I want to supplement my teachings with outside classes so he can have regular social interaction in a class form. In doing so, I've found several programs that run year round and would be nice for the summer time.
Did you know there's a Lego Learning Center in Southlake? It's the only one in North America and according to my son, it's super cool. They have several spring, summer, and winter camps. They also have regular sessions throughout the year and camps specifically for homeschoolers. They learn several skills including math, engineering, and fair play.
The Fort Worth Zoo has camps meant for homeschoolers, but anyone can attend. The children are in groups according to age and learn about various animals and their habits, etc. The Heard Natural Museum offers a similar course, but seems to focus more on local flora and fauna. How cool for a 5 year old to get a zoology class?
There are several local gymnasiums that have weekly drop in classes for under a couple bucks per child. These free play classes are always super fun and non competitive. You might also look into local music schools for summer programs and there are now cooking classes for children as well. I know that Whole Foods, Central Market, and Market Street offer cooking classes for children ages 5 and up. They also offer parent and child classes for ages 3 and up.
We're trying really hard to get our kids out more, but I find it difficult to motivate myself to go farther than the local park or the mall. It's often too hot or too cold outside for the kids and to be honest it's hard for me to get all three kids ready and out the door. So this year we have made the resolution to get our children more involved in activities outside of regular playdates or the play area at the mall. I hope I've given you a few ideas for your own kids and maybe we'll even see each other there!
Did you know there's a Lego Learning Center in Southlake? It's the only one in North America and according to my son, it's super cool. They have several spring, summer, and winter camps. They also have regular sessions throughout the year and camps specifically for homeschoolers. They learn several skills including math, engineering, and fair play.
The Fort Worth Zoo has camps meant for homeschoolers, but anyone can attend. The children are in groups according to age and learn about various animals and their habits, etc. The Heard Natural Museum offers a similar course, but seems to focus more on local flora and fauna. How cool for a 5 year old to get a zoology class?
There are several local gymnasiums that have weekly drop in classes for under a couple bucks per child. These free play classes are always super fun and non competitive. You might also look into local music schools for summer programs and there are now cooking classes for children as well. I know that Whole Foods, Central Market, and Market Street offer cooking classes for children ages 5 and up. They also offer parent and child classes for ages 3 and up.
We're trying really hard to get our kids out more, but I find it difficult to motivate myself to go farther than the local park or the mall. It's often too hot or too cold outside for the kids and to be honest it's hard for me to get all three kids ready and out the door. So this year we have made the resolution to get our children more involved in activities outside of regular playdates or the play area at the mall. I hope I've given you a few ideas for your own kids and maybe we'll even see each other there!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
What a day
I am so exhausted that I can't see straight. One child has a high fever and puked red juice and grapes all over my parents carpet. Another child has a mild fever and two teeth just breaking the gums. Of course, she doesn't want to be outdone by her brother so she's puking all over the carpet too. This is a result of her over eating everything in sight. The third child is fine, but he's warm and I have a sneaking suspicion that he might not be feeling good as well.
Some days as a mother are just hard. Just honest to goodness back breaking, exhausting work. I am covered in puke, but haven't had the energy to change and I've been scrubbing said puke out of the carpet all day. I need a break. But, I'm a mom and this is what we do. I'm sitting here typing this rant and I'm listening to my daughter cry because she's feeling ignored since I'm not holding her. I want to cry, but as soon as I look at her she breaks into a huge grin and her gap toothed smile makes me smile too.
I love my children. Yes, it's hard to have three small children. Some days are harder than others. But, everyday is filled with so much love. My pukey child only wants me to hold him and snuggle him. He hates the cold washcloths I'm using to bring down his fever, but he trusts me when I say it'll help him feel better and allows me to lay the cold cloth on him. I am so tired but I feel so loved that I will find the strength to get through this day so when I lay down tonight I will know that I did my best in caring for my sick kids.
Mother's Day is coming up and I want to remind everyone that moms are special every day. Not just on that Sunday in May. We all work so hard and I want to tell every one of you that I'm proud of you. It's not easy to be a mom. It's long hours and selfless dedication, but the rewards are great and it takes a strong woman to be a good mom. Happy early Mother's Day and happy late Earth day!
Some days as a mother are just hard. Just honest to goodness back breaking, exhausting work. I am covered in puke, but haven't had the energy to change and I've been scrubbing said puke out of the carpet all day. I need a break. But, I'm a mom and this is what we do. I'm sitting here typing this rant and I'm listening to my daughter cry because she's feeling ignored since I'm not holding her. I want to cry, but as soon as I look at her she breaks into a huge grin and her gap toothed smile makes me smile too.
I love my children. Yes, it's hard to have three small children. Some days are harder than others. But, everyday is filled with so much love. My pukey child only wants me to hold him and snuggle him. He hates the cold washcloths I'm using to bring down his fever, but he trusts me when I say it'll help him feel better and allows me to lay the cold cloth on him. I am so tired but I feel so loved that I will find the strength to get through this day so when I lay down tonight I will know that I did my best in caring for my sick kids.
Mother's Day is coming up and I want to remind everyone that moms are special every day. Not just on that Sunday in May. We all work so hard and I want to tell every one of you that I'm proud of you. It's not easy to be a mom. It's long hours and selfless dedication, but the rewards are great and it takes a strong woman to be a good mom. Happy early Mother's Day and happy late Earth day!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
You are beautiful just the way you are.
I recently went with a friend to her breast augmentation consultation. She has lost lots of weight over the past couple of years and in the process she lost a big portion of her breast size and firmness. So, she has made the decision to "buy her self image back" as she put it.
While we were at the doctor's office, there were several brochures and medical magazines on different procedures that were available. One magazine called for a "mommy makeover". It had a checklist of various items ranging from belly firmness to breast floppiness. If you checked one or more box then you were instructed to see the corresponding surgeries that would make you look beautiful again.
I was appalled by that article and survey. I am a young woman with three small children. I often have days where I lament the loss of my pre-baby body. I look at my breasts and wish they were perky again and I didn't have that "mommy apron" belly. But you know what? I GREW humans! I made life three times in my belly. I have love scars not "war wounds". I am proud of every stretch mark. My husband cherishes my fleshy hips and thicker thighs because he knows I'm eating well and nourishing his children while I'm pregnant and then while I'm nursing. I am a woman and I am a mother and I wouldn't change that for anything. I've learned to dress a little different and use some more drastic tricks to reshape or hold in various jiggly bits, but I'd rather buy less revealing clothes than have a major surgery that takes away my memories of carrying my children.
My friend feels she needs this surgery to make her feel like a woman again, and that's okay. I don't judge anyone for feeling that they need to have a procedure to make them feel attractive. You need to be happy with yourself and if cosmetic surgery makes you happy then go for it. My issue is doctors trying to make me feel ugly for having children. I was not one of the women who bounced back and lost all the weight and extra skin in three months. My daughter is 10 months old and I'm still a little bigger than I'd like to be, but I know that those extra pounds cushioned my baby in utero. I feel that my stretch marks are a road map of growth. I know which ones are from which pregnancy and I remember what months I got them in those pregnancies. They're badges of honor and I'm proud to carry them.
While we were at the doctor's office, there were several brochures and medical magazines on different procedures that were available. One magazine called for a "mommy makeover". It had a checklist of various items ranging from belly firmness to breast floppiness. If you checked one or more box then you were instructed to see the corresponding surgeries that would make you look beautiful again.
I was appalled by that article and survey. I am a young woman with three small children. I often have days where I lament the loss of my pre-baby body. I look at my breasts and wish they were perky again and I didn't have that "mommy apron" belly. But you know what? I GREW humans! I made life three times in my belly. I have love scars not "war wounds". I am proud of every stretch mark. My husband cherishes my fleshy hips and thicker thighs because he knows I'm eating well and nourishing his children while I'm pregnant and then while I'm nursing. I am a woman and I am a mother and I wouldn't change that for anything. I've learned to dress a little different and use some more drastic tricks to reshape or hold in various jiggly bits, but I'd rather buy less revealing clothes than have a major surgery that takes away my memories of carrying my children.
My friend feels she needs this surgery to make her feel like a woman again, and that's okay. I don't judge anyone for feeling that they need to have a procedure to make them feel attractive. You need to be happy with yourself and if cosmetic surgery makes you happy then go for it. My issue is doctors trying to make me feel ugly for having children. I was not one of the women who bounced back and lost all the weight and extra skin in three months. My daughter is 10 months old and I'm still a little bigger than I'd like to be, but I know that those extra pounds cushioned my baby in utero. I feel that my stretch marks are a road map of growth. I know which ones are from which pregnancy and I remember what months I got them in those pregnancies. They're badges of honor and I'm proud to carry them.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Yay! Spring is in the air!
I recently went to the grocery store and came home with a bounty of vegetables and fruits. Everything is becoming in season and everything is super cheap! Yae! We got cantaloupe, all kinds of berries, bell peppers, even artichokes for super cheap. Artichokes are one of my favorite vegetables, but they're normally very expensive so we aren't able to buy them fresh on a normal basis. Having freshly steamed whole artichokes was a special treat!
I highly recommend growing veggies and fruits in your garden like Rachel does, but if you've got a killer thumb (like me), then the grocery is the next best place. The Farmer's Market in Dallas should be filling up with lots of yummy goods right now also and they are usually inexpensive and it's a fun experience. I find that stores like Sprouts, Natural Grocer, and Whole Foods have great produce for a fair price and good selection.
I love springtime and all it's bounty. I get to cook with fresher ingredients and our menu is so varied according to what's in season. I like to ask my 4 year old what color he wants to eat today and we buy our veggies accordingly. He has fun and feels more involved in our menu planning. Don't forget to start going outside to grill. Get vitamin D from the sun and save some electricity!
I highly recommend growing veggies and fruits in your garden like Rachel does, but if you've got a killer thumb (like me), then the grocery is the next best place. The Farmer's Market in Dallas should be filling up with lots of yummy goods right now also and they are usually inexpensive and it's a fun experience. I find that stores like Sprouts, Natural Grocer, and Whole Foods have great produce for a fair price and good selection.
I love springtime and all it's bounty. I get to cook with fresher ingredients and our menu is so varied according to what's in season. I like to ask my 4 year old what color he wants to eat today and we buy our veggies accordingly. He has fun and feels more involved in our menu planning. Don't forget to start going outside to grill. Get vitamin D from the sun and save some electricity!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Kefir grains
This week I am going to go boldly where no one in my family has gone before. I am going to start using kefir grains. Or is it growing kefir grains? I am so excited and a little overwhelmed by my "natural" decision. My hubby is extremely skeptical to say the least, but he's humoring me at this point.
I have started to look at healthier things to eat and drink and thanks to our very own wonderful Crunchy Bunch Kathy, I have started into looking at eating some things raw. I started drinking kombucha which was an adventure in itself and has taken several tries before finding one that I could almost like. This journey into raw, healthy drinks got me on the road to kefir milk. My son is lactose sensitive and I thought that using kefir milk might work for him as a drink on a daily basis since it acts as a catalyst to help the body digest lactose. Kefir grains can feed, grow, and ferment on the milk of any mammal and even some milk alternatives such as soy milk, rice milk, or coconut milk. I am excited to try making kefir milk from coconut milk since I'm hoping the natural sweetness of the coconut milk will help cut the sour, fermented taste of the kefir milk.
I've read that you can use kefir milk in smoothies or even add flavorings to the milk itself. Some of the additives I want to try are agave nectar, honey, fruits, and maybe some vanilla bean. Several countries sell kefir milk as an all day beverage and it seems to be very popular all over the world. I've also been told that you can eat the grains themselves. These are very good since they have lots of probiotic bacteria. The milk has the same benefits as well.
Do you use kefir grains and/or milk? Do you have any tips or recipes for me to try? I am extremely interested in hearing your stories or recipes so please, please share! Otherwise, wish me luck and I'll keep you updated! Hopefully, soon I'll have enough grains to share with everyone!
I have started to look at healthier things to eat and drink and thanks to our very own wonderful Crunchy Bunch Kathy, I have started into looking at eating some things raw. I started drinking kombucha which was an adventure in itself and has taken several tries before finding one that I could almost like. This journey into raw, healthy drinks got me on the road to kefir milk. My son is lactose sensitive and I thought that using kefir milk might work for him as a drink on a daily basis since it acts as a catalyst to help the body digest lactose. Kefir grains can feed, grow, and ferment on the milk of any mammal and even some milk alternatives such as soy milk, rice milk, or coconut milk. I am excited to try making kefir milk from coconut milk since I'm hoping the natural sweetness of the coconut milk will help cut the sour, fermented taste of the kefir milk.
I've read that you can use kefir milk in smoothies or even add flavorings to the milk itself. Some of the additives I want to try are agave nectar, honey, fruits, and maybe some vanilla bean. Several countries sell kefir milk as an all day beverage and it seems to be very popular all over the world. I've also been told that you can eat the grains themselves. These are very good since they have lots of probiotic bacteria. The milk has the same benefits as well.
Do you use kefir grains and/or milk? Do you have any tips or recipes for me to try? I am extremely interested in hearing your stories or recipes so please, please share! Otherwise, wish me luck and I'll keep you updated! Hopefully, soon I'll have enough grains to share with everyone!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Natural Remedies
Sick germs love my family. We seem to be constantly being hit with colds this winter. I am nursing and refuse to take medication for my illnesses (plus decongestants can dry up my milk). My children are too young for most over the counter medications so we have turned to alternative methods of treating our sniffles and coughs.
My favorite is a cup of hot tea and honey. Sometimes, I just warm a cup of plain water with lemon and honey and that does wonders for soothing a sore throat. Gargling with salt water is icky but effective as well. I have recently started using a saline solution that I run through my sinuses. I use a gigantic syringe, but I've heard of Netti pots that do the same thing. The saline up the nose is amazing! I couldn't believe how much it helped and how much better I felt. I also overdose on vitamin C and echinacea when I feel a cold coming on. Today I had over 2000% of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and it's the first time in a week that I've felt like a living person. Thank you Odwalla!
My kids have started using a product called Sinupret for kids and I've found that while it doesn't prevent a cold, it does shorten the length of the cold and the severity of it. When combined with Emergen-C, we can knock out a cold fairly quickly with no significant interruption of our normal daily activities. They also like warm water and snuggles on the couch.
I love water. Water in all forms. Especially in steam while I'm sick. I've been known to lay on the floor of the shower and let the water fill the bathroom with steam and just marinate there. The steam helps loosen the congestion and relax my achy muscles when I have a fever. Drinking plain water is the easiest natural remedy for a lot of ailments. It helps flush toxins from your body and keeping hydrated is so important for everyone at all ages.
Chamomile is a wonderful tea for soothing nausea and upset stomachs. Lavender is relaxing for the mind and body. Ginger is great in several forms for soothing nausea. You can find it in sucker form, tea, candied, etc. Zinc helps reduce the length of colds as well. Zinc is found naturally in pumpkin seeds, beef, salmon, and potatoes. Mint teas are great for helping a cold or viral infection flush out of your system. Keeping things moving is key.
I hope everyone is keeping cozy warm and hopefully haven't been suffering from too many colds or the flu.
My favorite is a cup of hot tea and honey. Sometimes, I just warm a cup of plain water with lemon and honey and that does wonders for soothing a sore throat. Gargling with salt water is icky but effective as well. I have recently started using a saline solution that I run through my sinuses. I use a gigantic syringe, but I've heard of Netti pots that do the same thing. The saline up the nose is amazing! I couldn't believe how much it helped and how much better I felt. I also overdose on vitamin C and echinacea when I feel a cold coming on. Today I had over 2000% of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and it's the first time in a week that I've felt like a living person. Thank you Odwalla!
My kids have started using a product called Sinupret for kids and I've found that while it doesn't prevent a cold, it does shorten the length of the cold and the severity of it. When combined with Emergen-C, we can knock out a cold fairly quickly with no significant interruption of our normal daily activities. They also like warm water and snuggles on the couch.
I love water. Water in all forms. Especially in steam while I'm sick. I've been known to lay on the floor of the shower and let the water fill the bathroom with steam and just marinate there. The steam helps loosen the congestion and relax my achy muscles when I have a fever. Drinking plain water is the easiest natural remedy for a lot of ailments. It helps flush toxins from your body and keeping hydrated is so important for everyone at all ages.
Chamomile is a wonderful tea for soothing nausea and upset stomachs. Lavender is relaxing for the mind and body. Ginger is great in several forms for soothing nausea. You can find it in sucker form, tea, candied, etc. Zinc helps reduce the length of colds as well. Zinc is found naturally in pumpkin seeds, beef, salmon, and potatoes. Mint teas are great for helping a cold or viral infection flush out of your system. Keeping things moving is key.
I hope everyone is keeping cozy warm and hopefully haven't been suffering from too many colds or the flu.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
What is baby food?
My youngest child is 9 months old and eating EVERYTHING in sight. She was gnawing on beef jerky this morning. Yes, you read that correctly. Beef jerky. We have not had to buy this child a single jar of baby food because she only wants to eat "grown up" food. A girlfriend of mine asked if I was "allowed" to feed the baby food that didn't come from a jar. So, I explained to her how to make homemade baby food and it got me thinking that maybe some other mom might like some of the tips that I've found have worked for us.
Our family uses infant cereal. We know all about the dirty secrets about it, but I find that it's an easy transition food when we start feeding the babies table food. We normally use the rice formula and then progress to mixed cereals and ones with fruit in them. However, that's the extent of our prepared baby food buying. Mashed up bananas are great for infants. We give very ripe avocados to her; which are extremely nutritious. My daughter liked to scrape sliced apples with her bottom teeth and chew soft pears too. Baked/microwaved sweet potatoes, yams, and white potatoes are great also. Eventually we moved on to meat sticks and peeled turkey dogs.
I've also made baby food that looks like commercial baby food. I suggest investing in a small food processor. You can get the tiny ones for around $15. I would take some of whatever we were eating and mash it in the food processor and viola! Instant baby food. Macaroni and cheese is so easy to make for all of the kids for any age. Mash up the baby's portion, and give the older children the whole pasta.
It's so easy to make baby food. We use Cheerios and fruit leathers for easy snacks for her. She loves to suck on any dried fruit and as of this morning, dried meat. Remember to have a baby try a new food at least 15 times before giving up. It can take a lot of times before they decide they like it.
Our family uses infant cereal. We know all about the dirty secrets about it, but I find that it's an easy transition food when we start feeding the babies table food. We normally use the rice formula and then progress to mixed cereals and ones with fruit in them. However, that's the extent of our prepared baby food buying. Mashed up bananas are great for infants. We give very ripe avocados to her; which are extremely nutritious. My daughter liked to scrape sliced apples with her bottom teeth and chew soft pears too. Baked/microwaved sweet potatoes, yams, and white potatoes are great also. Eventually we moved on to meat sticks and peeled turkey dogs.
I've also made baby food that looks like commercial baby food. I suggest investing in a small food processor. You can get the tiny ones for around $15. I would take some of whatever we were eating and mash it in the food processor and viola! Instant baby food. Macaroni and cheese is so easy to make for all of the kids for any age. Mash up the baby's portion, and give the older children the whole pasta.
It's so easy to make baby food. We use Cheerios and fruit leathers for easy snacks for her. She loves to suck on any dried fruit and as of this morning, dried meat. Remember to have a baby try a new food at least 15 times before giving up. It can take a lot of times before they decide they like it.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Traveling with children
We're on an extended road trip and have been driving for hours with our children. All three of my children. My oldest is only four and a half and my youngest is 8 months old. While I'm no expert, I thought I would give some tips that we found worked for us while on the road for a long time.
Snacks, snacks, and more snacks. We had both boys get their little backpacks and fill them up with all the snacks they wanted. We purchased shelf stable chocolate milks, graham crackers, NutriGrain bars...anything they wanted (that was healthy of course). This helped a tremendous amount to keep them happy because they don't often get chocolate milk or NutriGrain bars. So they felt that they were having something super special and I got another hour of no crying! We usually give them dried fruit, but this time we let them pick which one they wanted and they felt grown up because they put them in their own bags and kept them by their seats.
We also used a DVD player to help them zone out. Bad mommy, I know, but it helped so much! We brought along paint with water books and let them go at it with those...my oldest son was also engrossed with his handheld gaming system.
Another great tip was to let them get out every three or four hours and stretch their legs. We'd go to the play area at McDonalds and let them run around for at least half and hour. The release of energy and boredom was awesome. We made sure to let them run around for a significant amount of time so they didn't throw a fit when it was time to get back into the car.
We've been having a blast while driving around and seeing new things. I highly recommend taking a road trip with your children. Even if it's just to somewhere close like Austin. The drive can be fun and educational. We saw windmills from a wind farm and later some oil rigs so we talked about the differences between the two and how they affect our day to day living. Not to mention that all of us were blown away (ha, ha) by how big the windmills were!
Snacks, snacks, and more snacks. We had both boys get their little backpacks and fill them up with all the snacks they wanted. We purchased shelf stable chocolate milks, graham crackers, NutriGrain bars...anything they wanted (that was healthy of course). This helped a tremendous amount to keep them happy because they don't often get chocolate milk or NutriGrain bars. So they felt that they were having something super special and I got another hour of no crying! We usually give them dried fruit, but this time we let them pick which one they wanted and they felt grown up because they put them in their own bags and kept them by their seats.
We also used a DVD player to help them zone out. Bad mommy, I know, but it helped so much! We brought along paint with water books and let them go at it with those...my oldest son was also engrossed with his handheld gaming system.
Another great tip was to let them get out every three or four hours and stretch their legs. We'd go to the play area at McDonalds and let them run around for at least half and hour. The release of energy and boredom was awesome. We made sure to let them run around for a significant amount of time so they didn't throw a fit when it was time to get back into the car.
We've been having a blast while driving around and seeing new things. I highly recommend taking a road trip with your children. Even if it's just to somewhere close like Austin. The drive can be fun and educational. We saw windmills from a wind farm and later some oil rigs so we talked about the differences between the two and how they affect our day to day living. Not to mention that all of us were blown away (ha, ha) by how big the windmills were!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Water Babies
I am passionate about unmedicated births and am especially a fan of water births. I think there's something both powerful and empowering in bringing a baby into the world with only yourself to rely on. I do feel that there is a time and a place for doctors and hospitals, but why use them if you don't need them? That's my philosophy anyways.
My first son was an emergency transfer to Baylor in downtown Dallas after a overzealous midwife moved things along too quickly. We had a "land" birth and even though we were in a hospital, we ended up with the best birth we knew how to have at the time. The doctor on call was wonderful and a huge supporter of unmedicated births herself, so she was extremely helpful and gave us the freedom to have our baby the way we wanted.
My next two children were born in water. Lovely, soothing water. I labored in the water and could not believe the difference in pain management. The sound of the water was incredibly soothing as well. I could lose myself in the noise of the running faucet as each contraction crested. We ended up giving birth in the water as well since it was so soothing. Both times, my babies slipped out easily and gently. We gave our friends a scare since our daughter came out quite blue, but that was perfectly normal and she was perfectly beautiful. I've found that water babies don't cry as much because the transition from womb to world is less of a shock since they are birthed into a water environment and they get a softer first glimpse of lights and sounds.
I recommend a water birth to anyone who is looking for more natural pain management while in labor and during delivery. It's been a method for pain management for hundreds of years. There are studies that show that immersing in water during labor can reduce the length of labor and can help the mom save her energy for pushing out her baby. Who doesn't want those things right?
For more information you can visit http://www.waterbirth.org/.
My first son was an emergency transfer to Baylor in downtown Dallas after a overzealous midwife moved things along too quickly. We had a "land" birth and even though we were in a hospital, we ended up with the best birth we knew how to have at the time. The doctor on call was wonderful and a huge supporter of unmedicated births herself, so she was extremely helpful and gave us the freedom to have our baby the way we wanted.
My next two children were born in water. Lovely, soothing water. I labored in the water and could not believe the difference in pain management. The sound of the water was incredibly soothing as well. I could lose myself in the noise of the running faucet as each contraction crested. We ended up giving birth in the water as well since it was so soothing. Both times, my babies slipped out easily and gently. We gave our friends a scare since our daughter came out quite blue, but that was perfectly normal and she was perfectly beautiful. I've found that water babies don't cry as much because the transition from womb to world is less of a shock since they are birthed into a water environment and they get a softer first glimpse of lights and sounds.
I recommend a water birth to anyone who is looking for more natural pain management while in labor and during delivery. It's been a method for pain management for hundreds of years. There are studies that show that immersing in water during labor can reduce the length of labor and can help the mom save her energy for pushing out her baby. Who doesn't want those things right?
For more information you can visit http://www.waterbirth.org/.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Spring cleaning
I just got done cleaning out our rental house and I was appalled by all the chemicals I used. Everything smelled like chemicals and even though everything was technically clean, I felt like we couldn't put food or things like that on the counters because then all of the chemicals would get on them.
I decided to look into greener ways to clean. We buy some green cleaning products, but I thought surely there has to be more natural ways to clean that are not harmful to us or the earth. After scouring the Internet I found the solution! Vinegar to the rescue! I found that you can add some lemon juice or essential oils to the vinegar solution to make it smell better, but I actually enjoy the vinegary smell because it smells clean to me.
I used a cloth soaked with white distilled vinegar to clean the counters and polish the faucets. If you add water to the vinegar to dilute it, you can use that to clean the refrigerator, microwave, oven, and dishwasher. If you add baking soda to make a paste, then you can use that to scour and scrub messes. Plus the baking soda helps deodorize any odors that might have built up.
I found so many uses for vinegar that I felt a little stupid. You can do so much with it! I'm now committed to finding even more ways to be green. I feel like I'm learning something new all of the time!
I decided to look into greener ways to clean. We buy some green cleaning products, but I thought surely there has to be more natural ways to clean that are not harmful to us or the earth. After scouring the Internet I found the solution! Vinegar to the rescue! I found that you can add some lemon juice or essential oils to the vinegar solution to make it smell better, but I actually enjoy the vinegary smell because it smells clean to me.
I used a cloth soaked with white distilled vinegar to clean the counters and polish the faucets. If you add water to the vinegar to dilute it, you can use that to clean the refrigerator, microwave, oven, and dishwasher. If you add baking soda to make a paste, then you can use that to scour and scrub messes. Plus the baking soda helps deodorize any odors that might have built up.
I found so many uses for vinegar that I felt a little stupid. You can do so much with it! I'm now committed to finding even more ways to be green. I feel like I'm learning something new all of the time!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Home is where the heart is
I had a hard time thinking of what I would write for this weeks post. I'm in the middle of packing for our move/vacation and of course all three of my kids are sick. I'm overdosing on vitamin C and echinacea hoping that I don't get sick as well because honestly, I can't take the time to be sick right now.
As I'm packing all of our mementos and belongings, I'm getting a little nostalgic. I'm finding things that I thought were lost or even thrown away. I found the pregnancy test that I took when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter (gross, but I'm a pack rat), I found several pens, several small toys, and even a $20 bill. Sweet on the $20! I'm also finding myself going to my son and asking if he remembers taking this picture or that and if he doesn't I'm taking the time to sit down and tell him about the picture. He now has a picture of himself and his daddy and one of he and I on his dresser. I'm remembering when it was just my husband and myself and wondering how we lived without children running around our home. I found a picture of myself and my best friend while we were in middle school so I'm trying to remember myself before I was a mom and a wife, but I can't remember how I ever filled my days.
I'm incredibly sad to be leaving this house even though we've lived in it for only a year. We gave birth to our daughter in this house. Our family has had so many ups and downs and sometimes things have even gone sideways. During all of this flurry of activity, a dear friend reminded me that it doesn't matter where we live. We are (for the most part) healthy. We, and especially our children, are happy and growing nicely. The city we live in...the house...the school district...none of that matters in the big scheme of things. Home is where the heart is and my heart is my family. My children ground me in a way that I could never have imagined and all the worry about everything else is superfluous.
I want to thank my friend for reminding me that we are okay and everything will work itself out. We'll make a home wherever we are because we are a family and we love each other and that's all that matters. When we get back from our trip I plan on going through our little knick knacks and pictures and telling my children the stories behind them. Because it's the little things that matter and that makes a house (or apartment) a home.
As I'm packing all of our mementos and belongings, I'm getting a little nostalgic. I'm finding things that I thought were lost or even thrown away. I found the pregnancy test that I took when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter (gross, but I'm a pack rat), I found several pens, several small toys, and even a $20 bill. Sweet on the $20! I'm also finding myself going to my son and asking if he remembers taking this picture or that and if he doesn't I'm taking the time to sit down and tell him about the picture. He now has a picture of himself and his daddy and one of he and I on his dresser. I'm remembering when it was just my husband and myself and wondering how we lived without children running around our home. I found a picture of myself and my best friend while we were in middle school so I'm trying to remember myself before I was a mom and a wife, but I can't remember how I ever filled my days.
I'm incredibly sad to be leaving this house even though we've lived in it for only a year. We gave birth to our daughter in this house. Our family has had so many ups and downs and sometimes things have even gone sideways. During all of this flurry of activity, a dear friend reminded me that it doesn't matter where we live. We are (for the most part) healthy. We, and especially our children, are happy and growing nicely. The city we live in...the house...the school district...none of that matters in the big scheme of things. Home is where the heart is and my heart is my family. My children ground me in a way that I could never have imagined and all the worry about everything else is superfluous.
I want to thank my friend for reminding me that we are okay and everything will work itself out. We'll make a home wherever we are because we are a family and we love each other and that's all that matters. When we get back from our trip I plan on going through our little knick knacks and pictures and telling my children the stories behind them. Because it's the little things that matter and that makes a house (or apartment) a home.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Domestic Violence
With the media frenzy surrounding the Chris Brown and Rihanna saga, it's been a little difficult to escape the gossip surrounding the couple. If you haven't heard, Chris Brown allegedly beat up his long time girlfriend Rihanna in a domestic dispute early Sunday morning. I think that this issue is extremely important and awareness of domestic violence needs to be raised.
Domestic violence is defined by Wikipedia as occurring when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic violence often refers to violence between spouses, or spousal abuse but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners. Domestic violence occurs in all cultures; people of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexes and classes can be perpetrators of domestic violence. Domestic violence is perpetrated by both men and women. Domestic violence can be in many forms including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, threats, or intimidation.
Emotional, financial, and psychological abuse are not considered criminal, but would be viewed in court as showing a history of abusive behavior should it become necessary to take someone to court for domestic violence. Women and men can be victims of domestic violence, but women are more often the victims. Please be aware that domestic violence is not considered a persons lack of control. For example, the abuser threatens violence while arguing with their partner. Domestic violence is often a deliberate choice that one person makes to break and control their partner or spouse over a long period of time.
Abusive partners will often use humiliation and/or isolation to control their partner. They will often make threats to exert their dominance. Abusers are very good at excusing away their behavior. They will blame a bad day at work or even a bad childhood. They also seek to blame shift and justify the abuse to the partner they're seeking to control.
A victim of domestic violence often feels desperate to escape their situation, but feel helpless to do so. There's often depression or self loathing. There could be frequent absences from work or school or various injuries that are from "accidents". Personality changes and fear of their partner are also common signs.
It is impossible to know what goes on behind closed doors, and if you're worried about getting involved please remember that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women every year. 5.3 million women are abused each year and 1,232 women are killed by someone they're intimate with. I have a friend who was robbed in a parking lot in broad daylight and everybody in the parking lot let it happen because they saw the man strike my friend in the face and assumed it was a domestic dispute. Nobody called the cops as my friend screamed or fell to the ground. Nobody cared that her toddler was in the vehicle and watched her mother get punched in the face. They assumed it was a husband and wife issue and they needed to work it out for themselves. I think that is extremely sad and shameful that our society has fostered a blind eye mentality. Please watch out for each other. You could save a life. Again, domestic violence does not discriminate between male, female, age, heterosexual, homosexual, or race. It affects everyone and you can do something about it.
Here are some resources if you ever need to report domestic violence or you would like more information:
American Institute on Domestic Violence
Ruidoso, New Mexico
(505) 973-2225
Email: info@aidv-usa.com
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
(303) 839-1852
Domestic violence is defined by Wikipedia as occurring when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic violence often refers to violence between spouses, or spousal abuse but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners. Domestic violence occurs in all cultures; people of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexes and classes can be perpetrators of domestic violence. Domestic violence is perpetrated by both men and women. Domestic violence can be in many forms including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, threats, or intimidation.
Emotional, financial, and psychological abuse are not considered criminal, but would be viewed in court as showing a history of abusive behavior should it become necessary to take someone to court for domestic violence. Women and men can be victims of domestic violence, but women are more often the victims. Please be aware that domestic violence is not considered a persons lack of control. For example, the abuser threatens violence while arguing with their partner. Domestic violence is often a deliberate choice that one person makes to break and control their partner or spouse over a long period of time.
Abusive partners will often use humiliation and/or isolation to control their partner. They will often make threats to exert their dominance. Abusers are very good at excusing away their behavior. They will blame a bad day at work or even a bad childhood. They also seek to blame shift and justify the abuse to the partner they're seeking to control.
A victim of domestic violence often feels desperate to escape their situation, but feel helpless to do so. There's often depression or self loathing. There could be frequent absences from work or school or various injuries that are from "accidents". Personality changes and fear of their partner are also common signs.
It is impossible to know what goes on behind closed doors, and if you're worried about getting involved please remember that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women every year. 5.3 million women are abused each year and 1,232 women are killed by someone they're intimate with. I have a friend who was robbed in a parking lot in broad daylight and everybody in the parking lot let it happen because they saw the man strike my friend in the face and assumed it was a domestic dispute. Nobody called the cops as my friend screamed or fell to the ground. Nobody cared that her toddler was in the vehicle and watched her mother get punched in the face. They assumed it was a husband and wife issue and they needed to work it out for themselves. I think that is extremely sad and shameful that our society has fostered a blind eye mentality. Please watch out for each other. You could save a life. Again, domestic violence does not discriminate between male, female, age, heterosexual, homosexual, or race. It affects everyone and you can do something about it.
Here are some resources if you ever need to report domestic violence or you would like more information:
American Institute on Domestic Violence
Ruidoso, New Mexico
(505) 973-2225
Email: info@aidv-usa.com
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
(303) 839-1852
Thursday, February 5, 2009
To Wean or Not to Wean
My daughter is almost 8 months old and we're already getting asked when we're going to stop nursing. Not only do I find this slightly offensive as most people wouldn't ask the mom of an 8 month old formula baby when they're going to stop giving them a bottle, but since I'm already counting down the days to when I can wean...well it makes me feel like a bad mom that I want to wean her, but I get my gander up when someone asks me that and makes me want to nurse her until she's 5.
I love nursing my children. I love that I provide their nourishment and I contribute to their mental well being because they know that they can count on me when they cry and need comforting. I love that they prefer me to anyone else and I think a lot of that is the fact that I nurse. I love that all three of my children would not take a bottle and two of them wouldn't/won't take a pacifier. Yes, not taking a paci is a little hard on us, but I love that I'm their number one comfort measure. I love the look of their little baby hands on my breast. I love looking into their eyes and I love seeing their eyes close as they fall asleep from nursing. I love the booby milk drunk look. You know the look I'm talking about!
I don't love my grandmotherly nursing bras. Yes, they have sexy ones, but I can't justify the cost of them. I don't love having to wear nursing pads all the time because sometimes they wrinkle or get pointy and make my breasts look funny in my shirts. I don't like leaking all over the place. I am embarrassed that one breast is significantly bigger than my other because my baby has a favorite side. No matter how often I nurse her on the smaller one, it just won't get bigger to match her favorite! I don't like that I forget to weigh myself after I nurse and my weight can fluctuate 4 lbs up or down depending on if I remembered to empty my breasts before stepping on the dreaded scale.
There are several more pros to cons when it comes to nursing my children. The cost comparison, the bond, the health benefits...I could go on and on about the benefits of breastfeeding your infants. But the honest truth for me is that I don't like being touched and having a person hanging off my breast for several hours every day for at least a year sometimes makes me cry. I am in bliss the first few months...then acceptance the next few months...and then the fidgets come on. I am starting to get those fidgets. I cannot wait for her to finish eating. I just would like to not be touched on a very sensitive part of my body for a few hours. My baby hits 9 or 10 months and I literally have to sit on my hands so I don't take them off before they're done eating because I get so overwhelmed with the sensory overload. They start to want to play and giggle and touch things and pull hair and crawl around...all while they're nursing. So I start to count down the months, weeks, and days until their first birthday and I can feel like I did my duty and can then take it day by day as to whether we will continue to nurse. I see these moms that nurse until their children are two or even older and I'm so jealous and proud of them! How wonderful for both of them that they still nurse! I hope everyday that I can make it that long. I want to make it that long, but the longest I've done is 13 1/2 months. I think I could have done longer if I wasn't pregnant again and sensitive, but I couldn't handle the touch overload. I want to just make it to her 2 year birthday. I would be so proud of myself if I nursed her that long. So, until then keep your fingers crossed for me that I can make it to 13 months and then 18 and then 24 months. And be proud of yourselves for everyday that you nursed your baby. Even if it's only for a few days. Every day of nursing is a gift to you and your baby and every drop is precious.
I love nursing my children. I love that I provide their nourishment and I contribute to their mental well being because they know that they can count on me when they cry and need comforting. I love that they prefer me to anyone else and I think a lot of that is the fact that I nurse. I love that all three of my children would not take a bottle and two of them wouldn't/won't take a pacifier. Yes, not taking a paci is a little hard on us, but I love that I'm their number one comfort measure. I love the look of their little baby hands on my breast. I love looking into their eyes and I love seeing their eyes close as they fall asleep from nursing. I love the booby milk drunk look. You know the look I'm talking about!
I don't love my grandmotherly nursing bras. Yes, they have sexy ones, but I can't justify the cost of them. I don't love having to wear nursing pads all the time because sometimes they wrinkle or get pointy and make my breasts look funny in my shirts. I don't like leaking all over the place. I am embarrassed that one breast is significantly bigger than my other because my baby has a favorite side. No matter how often I nurse her on the smaller one, it just won't get bigger to match her favorite! I don't like that I forget to weigh myself after I nurse and my weight can fluctuate 4 lbs up or down depending on if I remembered to empty my breasts before stepping on the dreaded scale.
There are several more pros to cons when it comes to nursing my children. The cost comparison, the bond, the health benefits...I could go on and on about the benefits of breastfeeding your infants. But the honest truth for me is that I don't like being touched and having a person hanging off my breast for several hours every day for at least a year sometimes makes me cry. I am in bliss the first few months...then acceptance the next few months...and then the fidgets come on. I am starting to get those fidgets. I cannot wait for her to finish eating. I just would like to not be touched on a very sensitive part of my body for a few hours. My baby hits 9 or 10 months and I literally have to sit on my hands so I don't take them off before they're done eating because I get so overwhelmed with the sensory overload. They start to want to play and giggle and touch things and pull hair and crawl around...all while they're nursing. So I start to count down the months, weeks, and days until their first birthday and I can feel like I did my duty and can then take it day by day as to whether we will continue to nurse. I see these moms that nurse until their children are two or even older and I'm so jealous and proud of them! How wonderful for both of them that they still nurse! I hope everyday that I can make it that long. I want to make it that long, but the longest I've done is 13 1/2 months. I think I could have done longer if I wasn't pregnant again and sensitive, but I couldn't handle the touch overload. I want to just make it to her 2 year birthday. I would be so proud of myself if I nursed her that long. So, until then keep your fingers crossed for me that I can make it to 13 months and then 18 and then 24 months. And be proud of yourselves for everyday that you nursed your baby. Even if it's only for a few days. Every day of nursing is a gift to you and your baby and every drop is precious.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Freecycling does the world good
I have recently joined the vast network of freecyclers. What is freecycling you ask? Freecycling is a group of people who give and receive each others cast offs...for free. This is a great way to keep things out of dumps and reduce your waste and carbon footprints. It's a pretty straightforward first come, first served network. You list what you are offering and where you are located and people will e-mail you back. Often, you will get several takers for one item and you can pick who you give your item too. I usually do first dibs and then go down the list from there if there are people who end up not showing up. I love that you can do porch pick up so you don't have to worry about knocking on someones door or having some stranger knock on yours. I get nervous about that when I'm alone with the kids.
You'd be surprised at what people will take and what they want! I've seen such random stuff being given away and people need your cast offs! It's completely true that one persons trash is another persons treasure. I'm part of a Yahoo! group that has freecycle groups by city, but you can find all kinds of networks. I'm very appreciative of the fact that the majority of the people honestly need the things they ask for and aren't going to turn around and sell it on Craigslist. I've had that happen and it really hurt my feelings! Sad, I know, but it did. I highly suggest joining a freecycle group and you never know what you might be able to take off someones hands. And there may be a person out there who needs the tacky pillow or weird pants that you have laying around that you just can't bring yourself to throw away.
You'd be surprised at what people will take and what they want! I've seen such random stuff being given away and people need your cast offs! It's completely true that one persons trash is another persons treasure. I'm part of a Yahoo! group that has freecycle groups by city, but you can find all kinds of networks. I'm very appreciative of the fact that the majority of the people honestly need the things they ask for and aren't going to turn around and sell it on Craigslist. I've had that happen and it really hurt my feelings! Sad, I know, but it did. I highly suggest joining a freecycle group and you never know what you might be able to take off someones hands. And there may be a person out there who needs the tacky pillow or weird pants that you have laying around that you just can't bring yourself to throw away.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Better late than never
Having a baby is a wonderful, magical...expectant period in your life. Whether it's your first or sixth child, you are waiting for everything. Waiting for the test to say pregnant...waiting for the sickness to pass...waiting for the first flutters, first hard kick, for the heartburn to go away! The waiting just gets worse as the pregnancy goes on. Then you're waiting to find out who you're having and all the cute baby clothes you've been dying to buy are suddenly practical since you know the sex.
I've always found that once I hit 36 weeks the waiting becomes unbearable. Like a ticking time bomb. When is that baby going to come?! Please baby, come out! Am I the only one? I think that is Mother Nature's way of getting a woman prepared for childbirth. We are so tired and so READY for our baby that we would do anything to get them out! Perk up though ladies! Cherish those last few weeks and days because whatever tiredness you felt before baby came out...well, it's nothing compared to the utter exhaustion that will happen after baby is born. And it's nothing compared to the absolute love and joy that your baby will be. So don't worry if you are overdue for your baby to come out. Feel good about the fact that your uterus is a comfy home for your baby and they just don't want to leave, and once you have your joy in your arms...nothing will compare to that feeling.
I've always found that once I hit 36 weeks the waiting becomes unbearable. Like a ticking time bomb. When is that baby going to come?! Please baby, come out! Am I the only one? I think that is Mother Nature's way of getting a woman prepared for childbirth. We are so tired and so READY for our baby that we would do anything to get them out! Perk up though ladies! Cherish those last few weeks and days because whatever tiredness you felt before baby came out...well, it's nothing compared to the utter exhaustion that will happen after baby is born. And it's nothing compared to the absolute love and joy that your baby will be. So don't worry if you are overdue for your baby to come out. Feel good about the fact that your uterus is a comfy home for your baby and they just don't want to leave, and once you have your joy in your arms...nothing will compare to that feeling.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Fabulousity comes in green
We have been working so hard to green our home and lifestyle lately. Not only is it better for our environment, but it's cheaper for our pocketbooks! Honestly, at this time we need to be as cheap as we can be. Sooo, we've made some simple everyday changes that is easy for everyone.
Turn off your water when you brush your teeth! Most people don't think of that when they're looking to save some water, but you can literally save gallons of water by just turning off the tap while you scrub those pearly whites. Also, I often need to fill a pan or mixing bowl with water to soak it before I can scrub it and put it in the dishwasher. Start using that soaking water to scrub your other dishes before putting them in the washer too! Normally, I would think that's icky and would want fresh water, but it's all going to get washed in the dishwasher so it doesn't matter much, right? Right. One last thing...make sure that dishwasher is filled to the brim so you can get as many dishes clean as you can with one load.
I'm always chasing my kids around turning off their lights behind them. We also unplug most of our small electronics to help with our carbon footprint. Using LED light bulbs will save energy and lots of money. You can replace one light bulb a month and will see the difference in your monthly bill almost immediately if it's a light you use often.
There are so many ways to save money and green ourselves that we make it a game with our kids to find ways to be eco-friendly. If you have any tips or tricks, I would love to hear them!
Turn off your water when you brush your teeth! Most people don't think of that when they're looking to save some water, but you can literally save gallons of water by just turning off the tap while you scrub those pearly whites. Also, I often need to fill a pan or mixing bowl with water to soak it before I can scrub it and put it in the dishwasher. Start using that soaking water to scrub your other dishes before putting them in the washer too! Normally, I would think that's icky and would want fresh water, but it's all going to get washed in the dishwasher so it doesn't matter much, right? Right. One last thing...make sure that dishwasher is filled to the brim so you can get as many dishes clean as you can with one load.
I'm always chasing my kids around turning off their lights behind them. We also unplug most of our small electronics to help with our carbon footprint. Using LED light bulbs will save energy and lots of money. You can replace one light bulb a month and will see the difference in your monthly bill almost immediately if it's a light you use often.
There are so many ways to save money and green ourselves that we make it a game with our kids to find ways to be eco-friendly. If you have any tips or tricks, I would love to hear them!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
There's a monkey on my back!
That's our fun phrase around our house. There always seems to be one child or another climbing on myself or my husband. Because of this we often wear our children; especially when we're out and about. Strollers are great too, but nothing beats being able to throw a kid in a carrier and jetting out the door.
There are several types of carriers including hip carriers, wraps, mei tais, ring slings and pouch slings, as well as a hybrid between a pouch and a wrap! My favorites include a hip carrier, wrap, and pouch sling. I always have one within easy reach. (As in I have one in my car, my diaper bag, my purse, my home, and I've even been known to throw one in my stroller "just in case".) They make my life so much easier and mobile. I don't have to worry if the store is stroller friendly or if my fussy 6 month old baby will go to sleep in her stroller. I know that she'll sleep if she's laying next to my heartbeat.
There's a lot of variety when picking the type of carrier that is right for you. The price range for carriers vary depending on the brand and the type. You can easily find a carrier for $30 up to $300. There are different types of fabric and different gadgets that you can get on your carrier. I prefer a woven wrap that doesn't stretch so much, but a friend of mine likes hers to be really stretchy so that she can mold the wrap to her baby. I find that stretchy wraps work especially well with newborns since they're often softer and a little more pliable (the wrap not the baby). I also like pouches for newborns. Be prepared though that your baby might disappear into the depths of your pouch! It makes me feel like a kangaroo!
Most carriers now come with extra gadgets that you can purchase. You could request a loop to attach keys or a toy. Or a little pocket to throw your ID and some cash. I've even seen ones where you can get a big pocket sewn in and put in a diaper and a case of wipes. You don't even need a diaper bag anymore! My husband has a pouch sling that he got a little big so he can have room to tuck a blanket around baby and a burp cloth since she has a habit of spitting up on him. Make sure that the sling is still safe and comfortable before ordering a size up or down though.
Baby wearing is such a fun, fun world to get into. We've tried so many types of baby carriers and each one is fantastic in its own way. Don't be scared to try several brands of the same type of carrier since each company has it's own formula for making its carrier. There's also several WAHM's that make custom carriers. Kathy at www.crunchybunch.com has a great variety of carriers that's perfect for beginner and advanced baby wearers alike.
There are several types of carriers including hip carriers, wraps, mei tais, ring slings and pouch slings, as well as a hybrid between a pouch and a wrap! My favorites include a hip carrier, wrap, and pouch sling. I always have one within easy reach. (As in I have one in my car, my diaper bag, my purse, my home, and I've even been known to throw one in my stroller "just in case".) They make my life so much easier and mobile. I don't have to worry if the store is stroller friendly or if my fussy 6 month old baby will go to sleep in her stroller. I know that she'll sleep if she's laying next to my heartbeat.
There's a lot of variety when picking the type of carrier that is right for you. The price range for carriers vary depending on the brand and the type. You can easily find a carrier for $30 up to $300. There are different types of fabric and different gadgets that you can get on your carrier. I prefer a woven wrap that doesn't stretch so much, but a friend of mine likes hers to be really stretchy so that she can mold the wrap to her baby. I find that stretchy wraps work especially well with newborns since they're often softer and a little more pliable (the wrap not the baby). I also like pouches for newborns. Be prepared though that your baby might disappear into the depths of your pouch! It makes me feel like a kangaroo!
Most carriers now come with extra gadgets that you can purchase. You could request a loop to attach keys or a toy. Or a little pocket to throw your ID and some cash. I've even seen ones where you can get a big pocket sewn in and put in a diaper and a case of wipes. You don't even need a diaper bag anymore! My husband has a pouch sling that he got a little big so he can have room to tuck a blanket around baby and a burp cloth since she has a habit of spitting up on him. Make sure that the sling is still safe and comfortable before ordering a size up or down though.
Baby wearing is such a fun, fun world to get into. We've tried so many types of baby carriers and each one is fantastic in its own way. Don't be scared to try several brands of the same type of carrier since each company has it's own formula for making its carrier. There's also several WAHM's that make custom carriers. Kathy at www.crunchybunch.com has a great variety of carriers that's perfect for beginner and advanced baby wearers alike.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
In with the old, out with the new!
The title seems a little backwards, right? However, I think that with all of the dangers of chemicals in today's toys...well we could stand to go a little old school for our children. Most of the toys, teething rings, and even medicines are made with harmful chemicals and chemical by-products. There are reports almost every month with more toys being recalled due to safety hazards. Because of this many companies are jumping on the "trend" to become BPA free and cold medicines have been recalled for children under the age of 6. Great! Those are all good things, but let's talk about bypassing the problem completely.
There are several companies that have BPA free plastics now for their bottles and sippy cups, but there are also companies that make their products out of completely safe materials from the beginning. There are now glass bottles again! These days you can even get a rubber sleeve for them so when/if they are dropped, they will be protected and less likely to break. These can be a little heavy so make sure your baby can hold them before leaving them unattended. There are stainless steel bottles that come in a variety of colors and designs that you could use for sippy cups. There are usually three cap choices and one of them is a sippy spout and adaptor. These are eco and child friendly. An added bonus is that these bottles keep beverages colder longer which is a must in the Texas summer. These bottles all have great resale value or freecycle them to pass on the eco goodness.
There are several companies that make natural and eco friendly toys. There are wooden rattles and cloth teethers for babies. Getting the cloth teethers organic is even better. At the very least you could use a damp, cold washcloth and you now have a free teether! I have seen rattles made out of cherry wood which is sustainable and maple which is a hard wood and perfect for chewing on. And what could be more wonderful than a handful of play silks? Get large rectangles or squares of cheap silks or some other light fabric and use them for dress up or fort making. Get the kids outside and using their imaginations. We find it really easy to get stuck in front of the tv or computer and I'm always trying to find ways to get my kids outside and pretending the day away.
How about comfort measures for teething babies? There are homeopathic tablets and gels that you can use (and I do!) but I really like something a little more natural. I've found that amber necklaces really do the trick. Actually, these do the trick for relieving pain and discomfort for several different maladies in babies and adults. Keep in mind that these are not to chew on! You only need to put the beads on the skin to get their healing properties. Amber is a healing stone that has been used for generations to help relieve discomforts. I've also found that letting baby gnaw on a shaved corn cob works wonders also. Delicious and nutritious!
Eating out of plastic bowls, plates, etc. can be just as dangerous as playing with plastics! Especially if you microwave them since the heat releases toxins that seep into your food. Try using bamboo bowls which are sooo pretty and the bamboo is sustainable. Plus, the clacking of wooden spoon to wooden bowl is so cute and homey sounding! Don't forget to try bamboo towels and washcloths. They are amazingly soft. I mean that in a "I can't believe more people aren't using these because they feel so good!" soft.
I hope to have inspired you to try a few old school goodies. I always feel that I must have been born in the wrong era since I love all of the retro products so much more than their electronic counterparts!
There are several companies that have BPA free plastics now for their bottles and sippy cups, but there are also companies that make their products out of completely safe materials from the beginning. There are now glass bottles again! These days you can even get a rubber sleeve for them so when/if they are dropped, they will be protected and less likely to break. These can be a little heavy so make sure your baby can hold them before leaving them unattended. There are stainless steel bottles that come in a variety of colors and designs that you could use for sippy cups. There are usually three cap choices and one of them is a sippy spout and adaptor. These are eco and child friendly. An added bonus is that these bottles keep beverages colder longer which is a must in the Texas summer. These bottles all have great resale value or freecycle them to pass on the eco goodness.
There are several companies that make natural and eco friendly toys. There are wooden rattles and cloth teethers for babies. Getting the cloth teethers organic is even better. At the very least you could use a damp, cold washcloth and you now have a free teether! I have seen rattles made out of cherry wood which is sustainable and maple which is a hard wood and perfect for chewing on. And what could be more wonderful than a handful of play silks? Get large rectangles or squares of cheap silks or some other light fabric and use them for dress up or fort making. Get the kids outside and using their imaginations. We find it really easy to get stuck in front of the tv or computer and I'm always trying to find ways to get my kids outside and pretending the day away.
How about comfort measures for teething babies? There are homeopathic tablets and gels that you can use (and I do!) but I really like something a little more natural. I've found that amber necklaces really do the trick. Actually, these do the trick for relieving pain and discomfort for several different maladies in babies and adults. Keep in mind that these are not to chew on! You only need to put the beads on the skin to get their healing properties. Amber is a healing stone that has been used for generations to help relieve discomforts. I've also found that letting baby gnaw on a shaved corn cob works wonders also. Delicious and nutritious!
Eating out of plastic bowls, plates, etc. can be just as dangerous as playing with plastics! Especially if you microwave them since the heat releases toxins that seep into your food. Try using bamboo bowls which are sooo pretty and the bamboo is sustainable. Plus, the clacking of wooden spoon to wooden bowl is so cute and homey sounding! Don't forget to try bamboo towels and washcloths. They are amazingly soft. I mean that in a "I can't believe more people aren't using these because they feel so good!" soft.
I hope to have inspired you to try a few old school goodies. I always feel that I must have been born in the wrong era since I love all of the retro products so much more than their electronic counterparts!
Monday, December 15, 2008
'Tis the season for giving
Making gifts for family members and friends is great fun, but what about the kids in your life? Here are a few ideas of little things that you can make for your kids that would make fun, inexpensive gifts.
Jingle bell instruments:
We made jingle bell wreaths for our friends, but both of my older kids enjoyed them so much that they would probably love these as stocking stuffers. Use bigger bells and heavier wire and you could make great instruments for the holidays. Sort of like a tambourine. You could trail some ribbon in your childs favorite color and personalize it!
Cardboard tube candy surprise:
supplies: empty toilet paper roll, candy, and wrapping paper. Embellishments if you prefer.
Fill the tube with candy or crayons or whatever small items your child likes. Wrap the tube with the wrapping paper and secure the ends. We twisted them and knotted ribbon around the ends. We re-used candy from Halloween for these. That way, whatever holiday candy didn't get used got tossed and our kids get a last candy hurrah. We're putting these tubes in their stockings.
Personalized pillow cases and pajama pants:
supplies: sewing machine, fabric, a sample pillow case and pajama pants. Elastic for the pants.
If you have a sewing machine then this is the perfect present for your children! Get fabric in their favorite character and whip up a pair of pillowcases or jammy pants! You can use a pillowcase you already have for a measurement sample. Or turn a pair of pants inside out and use this as a template for cutting out a "pants pattern". You know you'll have the right measurements since you're using pants that already fit him/her, but remember to cut them long so you have room to hem them. Sew the front and back together and hem the bottom. For the top, you hem it like normal but leave about two inches of opening and make sure it's wide enough for the elastic. Put a safety pin on one end of the elastic and run it through your hem. Make sure you don't lose the other end of the elastic! Once you've ran it all the way through then sew the ends together. Close the opening and ta-da! Quick and easy pants!
Recycled crayons:
Supplies: broken crayons, candy molds, heavy paper cups, microwave
We always have a ton of broken crayons laying around and this is a great way to get more use out of them. It makes them pretty and usable again and will be great as stocking stuffers.
Remove all paper from the crayons and sort by color. Put them in the cups and microwave until melted. Then pour them into the candy molds. You can freeze them to make them set faster or let them hang out on the counter.
You could also use cookie cutters as molds. Just don't remove the cookie cutters until the crayons are set.
Soaps:
Supplies: glycerin soaps, soap dyes, soap or candy molds, microwave safe bowl/cup, stirrer.
Cut the soaps in manageable pieces and melt in the microwave. Once they're all melted, add the dyes of choice. You can add more or less of the dye for desired effect. Try using your childs favorite colors or sports team colors. Pour the liquid into the molds and let harden. This can take 45 minutes to an hour. If they don't pop out of the molds easily then toss them in the freezer for a couple of minutes and try again.
Coloring books:
Most TV networks have places online where you can print off coloring pages. Print several from your most watched programs and staple together to make a quick and easy coloring book.
Food items:
My kids love cookies, but I only make them occasionally. Try making a little gift package of your childrens favorite cookies or compromise and make a healthy cookie that you don't mind them gorging on. Or you could make them their favorite breads. Like zucchini or banana breads. We made a honest-to-goodness fruit bread this year that is overloaded with every kind of dried fruit you can think of and my kids went ga-ga over it. I feel great about all of us eating it because it literally has about 4 cups of fruit in the recipe. Special treats like that are always great gifts for my kids...maybe yours will love them too!
Last but not least are personalized Christmas ornaments:
Supplies: Clear ornaments (you can get these from craft stores like Michaels or Joanns), double sided tape, glitter, embellishments.
Use the double sided tape to make stripes or designs on the ornaments and roll them in a plate full of glitter. Use a glitter pen to write your childs name and the year on it. You could use stickers or other types of embellishments to personalize them even more. Add a bit of ribbon or thread for hanging. You could even hand paint the ornaments if you're adventurous enough. How fun for your children to come out Christmas morning and see that "Santa" had left special ornaments just for them!
You could also do little gift baskets by going to the dollar store and stocking up on crayons, photo frames, etc and putting everything together in a basket. If your child likes to cook then put everything in a mixing bowl and add a spatula or mixing spoon. You could even put in a cookie mix and make a date to make them. If you guys like to garden then give them a trowel and some gardening gloves.
Personalized touches are what make even the smallest gifts so special. My children get so excited when something is made just for them. They feel special and making them feel special makes my day. These are all just little gifts, but I'm sure you will get big hugs from them.
Jingle bell instruments:
We made jingle bell wreaths for our friends, but both of my older kids enjoyed them so much that they would probably love these as stocking stuffers. Use bigger bells and heavier wire and you could make great instruments for the holidays. Sort of like a tambourine. You could trail some ribbon in your childs favorite color and personalize it!
Cardboard tube candy surprise:
supplies: empty toilet paper roll, candy, and wrapping paper. Embellishments if you prefer.
Fill the tube with candy or crayons or whatever small items your child likes. Wrap the tube with the wrapping paper and secure the ends. We twisted them and knotted ribbon around the ends. We re-used candy from Halloween for these. That way, whatever holiday candy didn't get used got tossed and our kids get a last candy hurrah. We're putting these tubes in their stockings.
Personalized pillow cases and pajama pants:
supplies: sewing machine, fabric, a sample pillow case and pajama pants. Elastic for the pants.
If you have a sewing machine then this is the perfect present for your children! Get fabric in their favorite character and whip up a pair of pillowcases or jammy pants! You can use a pillowcase you already have for a measurement sample. Or turn a pair of pants inside out and use this as a template for cutting out a "pants pattern". You know you'll have the right measurements since you're using pants that already fit him/her, but remember to cut them long so you have room to hem them. Sew the front and back together and hem the bottom. For the top, you hem it like normal but leave about two inches of opening and make sure it's wide enough for the elastic. Put a safety pin on one end of the elastic and run it through your hem. Make sure you don't lose the other end of the elastic! Once you've ran it all the way through then sew the ends together. Close the opening and ta-da! Quick and easy pants!
Recycled crayons:
Supplies: broken crayons, candy molds, heavy paper cups, microwave
We always have a ton of broken crayons laying around and this is a great way to get more use out of them. It makes them pretty and usable again and will be great as stocking stuffers.
Remove all paper from the crayons and sort by color. Put them in the cups and microwave until melted. Then pour them into the candy molds. You can freeze them to make them set faster or let them hang out on the counter.
You could also use cookie cutters as molds. Just don't remove the cookie cutters until the crayons are set.
Soaps:
Supplies: glycerin soaps, soap dyes, soap or candy molds, microwave safe bowl/cup, stirrer.
Cut the soaps in manageable pieces and melt in the microwave. Once they're all melted, add the dyes of choice. You can add more or less of the dye for desired effect. Try using your childs favorite colors or sports team colors. Pour the liquid into the molds and let harden. This can take 45 minutes to an hour. If they don't pop out of the molds easily then toss them in the freezer for a couple of minutes and try again.
Coloring books:
Most TV networks have places online where you can print off coloring pages. Print several from your most watched programs and staple together to make a quick and easy coloring book.
Food items:
My kids love cookies, but I only make them occasionally. Try making a little gift package of your childrens favorite cookies or compromise and make a healthy cookie that you don't mind them gorging on. Or you could make them their favorite breads. Like zucchini or banana breads. We made a honest-to-goodness fruit bread this year that is overloaded with every kind of dried fruit you can think of and my kids went ga-ga over it. I feel great about all of us eating it because it literally has about 4 cups of fruit in the recipe. Special treats like that are always great gifts for my kids...maybe yours will love them too!
Last but not least are personalized Christmas ornaments:
Supplies: Clear ornaments (you can get these from craft stores like Michaels or Joanns), double sided tape, glitter, embellishments.
Use the double sided tape to make stripes or designs on the ornaments and roll them in a plate full of glitter. Use a glitter pen to write your childs name and the year on it. You could use stickers or other types of embellishments to personalize them even more. Add a bit of ribbon or thread for hanging. You could even hand paint the ornaments if you're adventurous enough. How fun for your children to come out Christmas morning and see that "Santa" had left special ornaments just for them!
You could also do little gift baskets by going to the dollar store and stocking up on crayons, photo frames, etc and putting everything together in a basket. If your child likes to cook then put everything in a mixing bowl and add a spatula or mixing spoon. You could even put in a cookie mix and make a date to make them. If you guys like to garden then give them a trowel and some gardening gloves.
Personalized touches are what make even the smallest gifts so special. My children get so excited when something is made just for them. They feel special and making them feel special makes my day. These are all just little gifts, but I'm sure you will get big hugs from them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
