Introducing A Local Babywearing Blog

I belong to the babywearing group that operates in the local area. We've recently launched a blog. Check it out!

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Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Slings, Sunglasses and Sunhats

Here's an oldie but a goodie. This picture was taken a little over a year ago. Elizabeth and I were at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes for a CLC retreat.

Comfy Joey Sale

Oh, I'm drooling over the reversable pouches. I want one for my sister-in-law expecting her first, one for my sister-in-law that recently had her second, and even one for myself. They're on sale too.

www.comfyjoey.com

Hot Babywearing German Daddy

When Daddy's Away The Girls Will Play

The Husband is away on another business trip. He left yesterday afternoon. Annie had a hard time settling to sleep with him gone and seemed at loose ends when she woke up. It seemed that a crucial fixture of her sleeping and waking routines was missing. Daddy was away at work.

We'd gotten too complacent with routine. We were allowing the man to keep us down! I decided a wild crazy week of baby party was in order. I scooped up the girls and took them to the supermarket for juice, milk, cookies,jarred food, diapers, and hot dogs. Freshly stocked for a wild week without the old man keeping us down we walked to Starbucks. I got coffee, prayed Morning Prayer, and Annie stood by my table pointing out various things.


Other plans for the week include a NINO meeting, playing with the cousins, a trip to Burke Lake Park, and maybe some other fun baby-friend time.

The Evolution of a Babywearer

So when I was pregnant with Annie, I saw the Snugli's and the Bjorns at Babies R Us. I'd recently gotten a hands-free device for my cell phone and when I saw those carriers, I thought, "A baby hands-free device is brilliant! I will so need one!' And I registered for a Snugli. I got the Snugli at a baby-shower.
The idea of a hands-free device for a baby is brilliant, but a Snugli not-so-much. It wasn't comfortable to wear and the material that was responsible for keeping the baby attached to the straps kept coming undone. It was fundamentally unsafe.

My pediatrician recommended the Dr. Sear's Baby Book as good reading on the care and raising of a newborn. Dr. Sears goes on at length about his NoJo baby sling. The sling seemed to make sense, so I got one of those. It worked so-so for awhile. Here's one of the few pictures of me wearing the NoJo, although there are loads of the Husband using it.

Then a distant relative noticed that I was trying to wear the baby and turned me on to babywearing and all the wonderful options that are available out there. I stumbled across both thebabywearer.com as well as NINO. She helped me find a mei tai of my very own. A mei tai is an Asian-style baby carrier. It has a peice of fabric to support the baby's body, and long straps to comfortably and safely tie the baby to the mama's body. Below is a picture of Annie and I at Merrifield Garden Center.

I got pregnant around the time this picture was taken. I used the mei tai for another six months, until Annie started to walk and my belly popped. Once Annie could walk, she wasn't interested in being carried until she'd perfected her new skill.

With the second baby on the way, I knew I wanted a better ring sling than the NoJo. I picked out an Ellaroo lightly padded ring sling in Lilac passion and my mother in law purchased it as Elizabeth's birth gift. I have lots of pictures of the Husband wearing it, but none of me. It's currently on loan at the moment. When it makes its way back to me, I'll post a picture of me wearing it.

During the same time that I acquired the Ellaroo ring sling, I was looking at a forum called The Baby Wearer. I was learning lots of information about babywearing and parenting in general. There are avid babywearers on this forum, and some people even develop collections of carriers, or at least keep an eye out for beautiful carriers. I think the carriers are nice, but nothing ever made me think, "OOOh I want that" until I saw a Sakura Bloom ring sling.

The Sakura Blooms are double-layer duponi silk. The color combinations are eye-catching and breath-taking. And the silk is so luxurious. I sighed over these for months, thinking I would never have one. My mother-in-law offered to make me a double layer silk ring sling for my birthday (can you tell that I have a great mother-in-law?) and I busied myself looking at fabric samples to choose a great color combination.

The Husband suprised me with my very own Sakura Bloom as a birthday present. I wear it everyday.

You would think getting one of the most lovely things you've ever seen would create contentment, yes?

Weelll, the summer is upon us, and we'll be at the pool and at the beach. Doesn't it make sense to have a carrier that's waterproof? I've ordered a solarveil ring sling and it's on it's way now...I'm sure there will be more to my evolution as a babywearer as I continue having kids.

Maybe one day I'll even wrap my kids up in a long peice of fabric.

Pampers Rewards

After trying several brands of diapers, I have settled on the Pampers brand as one of the best fits for the baby.

Most brands of baby items have websites where you can register. The registration process allows you to recieve coupons and free smaples, making it worthwhile for the consumer.

Pampers also has the 'gifts to grow' program. You get a package of diapers & there is a code on the inside packaging. You enter the code on the website and voila, you rack up points for free stuff. While the free stuff is in no way near the price I'm spending per package of diapers, it's not a bad return for having to spend $.30 per diaper.

The only drawback has been that I have purchased a few packages of diapers that didn't have the proper codes added to the packaging. If they are offering an incentive to purchase thier product, that incentive better be there. Overall, a good idea to promote brand loyalty.

Cherry Blossom Adventure

Last Wednesday, a week ago now, the baby and I went to go see the Cherry Blossoms in the Tidal Basin. We went with another baby and mommy friend.

Here is a shamelessly cute picture of the baby...


trying to grab a clump of cherry blossoms and wad them into her mouth. I let her chew on a grape instead...




while she put forth game effort, I don't think her heart was in it. She was perked up by this furry fellow...




Overall, I think a good time was had by all...




Save the brutally rebuffed.