Birth as We Know It

I just found out about this wonderful, wonderful video about birth. It's called "Birth as We Know It" and just watching the trailer makes me cry and smile and laugh...check it out! Definitely on my wish list!

Birth as We Know It

Because What You Don't Know Can Hurt You...

Five Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I have double vision. That's right, I see two of everything. This makes it really difficult to play pool and mini golf, but I love going to fireworks!

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2. I rode horses since I was four years old and participated in Equestrian competitions. I had to sell my horse when I got pregnant with the Mermaid and haven't been on a horse since....I really miss it.

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3. I have a phobia of dolls. But just the real fancy porcelain ones that you keep on a stand to look at. I can't walk by the doll kiosk in the mall without digging my nails into the Knight's arm.

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4. I think whoever invented Bratz has a special place in Hell reserved for them for teaching little girls it's OK to be materialistic, wear too much make up, and dress like a slut.

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5. When I took my driver's license test I ran a stop sign and hit a snow bank. When the test ended the instructor flipped a coin to decide if he would pass me or not...I picked heads, and heads it was. He passed me.

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Thanks to Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing for this fun meme. Now, post this meme in your blog and leave the link in a comment so I can learn more about you! :o)

Because What You Don't Know Can Hurt You...

3 Month Old Letter

My Dearest Guppy,
As I sit here writing this your sister is out with her Grampy and Grandma and you are sleeping soundly in your pack and play. I still cannot believe that you are three months old. How time does fly!
This morning I was walking about in the living room getting some cleaning done before the Mermaid came home. You were sleeping in your Pack and Play and yet, I noticed that every time I walked by you would open your eyes slightly, watch me pass, and go back to sleep. Poor baby, I thought, I think I will put her in the bedroom so that I won't disturb her and she will sleep more soundly.
Sleep soundly, you did not.
Every five minutes you would fuss until I came to lay down next to you on the bed. Only then would you go back to sleep. This went on for an hour. Why, I thought, is this baby having trouble sleeping when the room is so quiet? Then it hit me. Not quiet. Silent. You were having trouble sleeping because there was only silence surrounding you. You could not hear my reassuring footsteps nearby, could not feel my presence in the room. When your eyes would open to watch me pass, it wasn't because I was disturbing your sleep; it was because you wanted to make sure I was there, right near you. You wanted to make sure you weren't alone.
You reassure yourself of my presence in many ways. Like the way you gaze in my eyes and pat my breast when you nurse. Or the way you somehow wiggle yourself against me every night, so in the morning you are curled up along side my body. I truly believe that we are not only connected through heart and soul, but perhaps on a telepathic level.
This need of my presence reminds me that yes, you are growing up so fast, and yes, you are getting so big....but you are still so small and new to this world. You are connected to each of us, but with you and I, we are more of a unit, more of one person. Just as your sister before you, you will grow and gain your independence and become your own unit, but for now, you should feel safe and protected in my arms.
Dear Guppy, please know that I will always be here for you, just as your father and your sister will always be here for you. You never have to fear being alone in the dark. And if you do find yourself afraid, or lonesome, just call for me, and I will come ...running.

3 Month Old Letter

Christmas Memories

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas/holiday. Our Christmas went really well, in my opinion. Christmas Eve we went over to my Aunts house and celebrated with the family. We did stocking stuffers and a Yankee Swap, and also a Secret Santa. From my Secret Santa I got a shirt that has a pink Superman symbol on the front and it says, "I make milk. What's your superpower?" Unfortunately I don't have it yet, because it didn't come in on time. But I will post pics of it when I do get it. My family also got the girls a lot of toys. The gifts from that night alone are enough to cover Brooke's entire toddler bed.

Christmas the IL's and DH's grandmother came to our house. It was my first time cooking a big meal like that and everyone seemed to enjoy the food. We all got great gifts and I'm pretty sure that everyone enjoyed themselves. My only disappointment was that with all the running around I was doing, I didn't get to take very many pictures at all :o(. So I only have a few to share, but here they are:

Wearing a new outfit she got for x-mas

The Guppy relaxing in Nana's arms

In her new sled from Grampa and Grama

Waiting for Santa on x-mas eve

Playing with her new keyboard from Nana

Can you tell they got spoiled? And these aren't including the gifts from Xmas eve.

I also got a very nice gift from MIL and SIL, a quilt that has family pictures on it. I have to find a place to hang it and when I do I will take a picture to post.

How about you? How was your holiday?

Christmas Memories

Happy Holidays

With the holidays here I haven't been posting as much, but will be back to posting regularly. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great holiday! Enjoy all the good food and gifts, and of course, be sure to stay safe on the road!

Happy Holidays

Nestle Warned....Again

My family and I boycott Nestle. There are many reasons we boycott them, but the main reason is because their business ethics are.....well, let's just say they don't have ethics. And yet again, Nestle is in the news for their poor conducting of business. According to Reuters News,

U.S. health regulators have warned Swiss food group Nestle over its GoodStart Infant Formula with Iron after a sample failed to meet proper nutrient levels, according to a letter released on Tuesday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration letter said its analysis of the formula collected in May did not meet minimum requirements for calcium and phosphorus, the agency said in a
November 27 letter to the company.

Nestle, of course, is claiming that it is a matter of improper testing procedures, or something else, because of course they are innocent @@.
You can find a copy of the warning letter at the US Food and Drug Administration site.

Nestle Warned....Again

Breastmilk Fighting Cancer?

Most of us breastfeeding moms know that breastfeeding has lot of of benefits not only to the baby, but to the mom also. The act of breastfeeding reduces the risk of both breast cancer and ovarian cancer for the mother. But does the actual breastmilk have cancer fighting powers too?
According to Science News, it does. According to the article:

Once Svanborg and her team had established that something in breast milk was killing human cancer cells in the lab, they isolated the assassin. It turned out to be the protein alpha-lactalbumin. But the compound becomes lethal only when
exposed to acid, as it is in a stomach and was in the lab. The acid unfolds the alpha lactalbumin protein into a havoc-wreaking form.
Svanborg dubbed the acidified form of the protein HAMLET, for human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumors.
Cancer cells take up far more HAMLET than healthy cells do. The huge quantities of unfolded proteins destroy the cancer cells. Svanborg found that HAMLET killed 40 kinds of tumor cells in lab dishes. She has also studied the reactive compound in rats with human-cancer cells implanted in their brains.
She used an invasive cancer called glioblastoma that usually kills people in less than a year. She injected HAMLET directly into the tumors of some of the rats, while others received injections of alpha-lactalbumin that hadn't been activated by acid.
After 7 weeks, the rats getting inactive protein bore tumors seven times, on average, as large as the tumors in the HAMLET-treated rats, the researchers reported in 2004

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Cancer runs rampant through both mine and the Knights family. My grandmother passed away two years ago after a long battle with cancer. The Knight has lost three aunts to cancer, and his grandmother just recently went into remission after treatment for a cancerous tumor in her throat. My mother is also in remission after treatment for ovarian and stomach cancer. So for us, cancer is a big concern. We do our best to stay as healthy as possible, we don't smoke, etc. But my greatest fear is that myself or my daughters will get cancer. I'm glad to know that by breastfeeding, not only am I reducing my chances of getting cancer, but also my daughters' chances. Hopefully these new findings will bring us closer to a cure.

Thanks to Angela over at Breastfeeding 1-2-3 for the heads up on this article.

Breastmilk Fighting Cancer?

In the News...

A couple articles that I've been looking at the past week and I've finally decided I have time to blog about them.

I know that there is a lot of controversy surrounding the whole immigration issue. I'm not going to argue that issue. In fact, I won't even state which side of the argument I agree with. But no matter what side, there is no reason at all that the government should seperate a nursing mom from her baby. You are not only punishing the mom, but the baby too, because the baby will suffer emotionally from not having her mother near her and physically from not having the nutricious breastmilk that she needs. DesMoines news reports that:

Sister Christine Feagan, from the St. Mary’s Hispanic Ministry, and The Rev. Jim Miller, who is a priest from the St. Mary’s Parish, both said they drove to Camp Dodge this afternoon to find out the status of a nursing mother who was deported and nursing a baby. They were also seeking a father with an ashmatic child.
The baby left behind has her own problems.She has been difficult to feed since her mother was arrested, Feagan said.“The mother was breastfeeding the baby,” Feagan said. “The baby doesn’t want to eat. Another tried to breastfeed, but she knew it wasn’t her.”

The Nashville Scene did a report that looks at Attachment Parenting from the perspective of a more mainstream mom. The same mom also wrote this article, which answers some questions moms might have about the whole AP philosophy.

And now, for some celebrity news. Gwen Stefani has been reported stating that she is still nursing her son, and that breastfeeding gives her super powers. And a celebrity homebirth! Morgan Spurlock, the guy who did Supersize Me, and his wife had their baby son on December 9th.....at home :o) Murlock writes:

He's beautiful and we haven't been able to stop staring at him. We had the baby at home and Alex had no drugs, no sedatives, nada - yes, she is amazing. I don't know how she did it ... and she was in labor for 36 hours! Unbelievable.

And that's it for in the news.

In the News...

Rolling Things Along...

Here it is, ball #2. I like the different colors better and it's bigger than the first one. Next is a swirl ball and then some blocks, but I doubt I will get it all finished before Christmas.

Rolling Things Along...

The Guppy's 2 month WBV

This past Friday the Guppy had her two month check up. I really hate these appointments because I see no need to bring a perfectly healthy child to the doctor, but I was really interested to see how much weight she had gained, so we went. And the Guppy is now up to 15 lbs! The Mermaid didn't weigh 15lbs until she was 7 months old. And all on Mommy's Milk! We declined all vaxs and she checked out as perfectly healthy. So, I paid $15 dollars to get my baby weighed and for someone to tell me that she was perfectly healthy....which I already knew. Ah well.

The Guppy's 2 month WBV

Losing the Weight

Before I got pregnant with the Mermaid, my weight usually ranged from 118 to 122 (I always weighed more in the winter). Then pregnancy hit.
My pregnancy with the Mermaid was uneventful. I pretty much had an easy going pregnancy, except for one thing: weight gain. I gained, and gained, and gained. In total, I ended up gained a whopping 78lbs. And it was all because I didn't take care of myself. I would sit on the couch and eat.
Then came the Mermaid's birth. It was a pretty easy birth, as hospital births go. The hardest part occurred when I got home. I quickly sunk into postpartum depression and didn't even realize it. At the time, I was having trouble breastfeeding the Mermaid, I was new at motherhood, I lived out of state from the rest of my family. I also had issues with other people not approving of my parenting style, which made me feel really insecure. The Knight had a different, less paying job, and we were broke. And finally, my grandmother was really sick and ended up dying right before Christmas. Yesterday was the anniversary of her death. So, let's just say, I spent most of my days either eating or crying. Not good.
Fast forward about four months. The Knight has a new job, I'm sticking up for my parenting style more, and we decided to move into my mom's house so we could pay off our debt and get our credit back into good standing. I finally started feeling more like myself, and joined Weight Watchers so I could lose weight in time for my wedding. I went from 176lbs to 145lbs. Not bad.
Then I got pregnant with the Guppy. This time around, I was prepared. My midwife went over nutrition with me and we would discuss everything I ate. I ate healthy food and I exercised. I gained 42lbs...still more than I would have liked, but a lot better than last time. Fast forward to the homebirth....the most wonderful experience of my life. And I am still high from it. Not once since the Guppy's birth have I felt depressed or weepy. I've never felt so good in my life. And since I hit six weeks postpartum, I've started to carefully diet and exercises in order to become more healthy. I am on Weight Watchers again (using the nursing moms system) and every morning I get up at 6am to exercise. I do Billy's Boot Camp three days a week and the rest of the week I do other exercises, like the core ball or walking. When I gave birth to the Guppy, I weighed 210 lbs. By the time I was six weeks postpartum, I was down to 183lbs (yay breastfeeding!). Right now I am down to 173 lbs. So, since I started WW and exercising five weeks ago, I have lost 10 lbs., bringing the total since the Guppy's birth up to 37 lbs lost. I feel great. I feel healthier. I have so much energy and I am happy. My goal is to eventually get down to 130 lbs (definitely a long term goal).
So to any moms out there who have lost weight, I want to hear success stories and any tips!

Losing the Weight

My Morning in Pictures

The two sisters
The Mermaid watching my workout video

My Morning in Pictures

Oink, Oink, Oink

Ok, no laughing allowed! Here is the stuffed pig I knit for the Guppy:

And, just because she is so darn cute:

Oink, Oink, Oink

Goodbye Fast Life, Hello Motherhood....

Although I don't consider myself a young mom, a lot of people would. I'm usually one of the youngest moms in my playgroups. And I've had strangers think that I was the babysitter numerous times. I am the only one my age whom I know with children. Most of my before-children friends have drifted away, which is fine with me, since we really don't have much in common anymore. Except my best friend, who I think still enjoys hanging around with me because she adores kids and she has two nieces that are the Mermaid's age, so we have "playdates" and take the kids to the mall, etc. She is now engaged and wants to start trying to have kids as soon as the wedding is over. But sometimes, I wonder how my life would've been different if I didn't have children, if I had waited a little longer. This thought kept popping up repeatedly last night due to a conversation I had with my best friend. It went something like this:

BF: Oh, great news! Fiance and I are going on a cruise! We just kind of decided last minute to book one, I can't wait!
Me: That's great! Hang on, I have to change a diaper.....OK back.
BF: Oh, and did I tell you? We're looking at a house in town and we plan on moving into our own house by February!
Me: That's great! Hang on, the Guppy just spit up all over me....OK back
BF: We had so much fun last night! We took his bike out all over town and hit up a few bars! What a night!
Me: That's great! Hang on, the Mermaid just flushed my makeup down the toilet....I'd better call you back....

Did I mention that it takes me an hour of planning in order to get the kids to the grocery store, so I could never dream of spontaneously booking a cruise? And did I mention that we moved out of our own apartment and into my mom's house two years ago because we had so much debt we couldn't afford to save for a house while paying rent? And did I mention the last time I went out on the town hitting up bars, I was barely legal? And did I mention I am usually in bed by 9pm?

Yup, so I was definitely sitting sorry for myself while I sat down to play with the girls and watch tv, knowing that meanwhile my friend is out having the time of her life in her no-children-yet body.

And then the Mermaid comes up and hugs me, kisses me on the cheek.
"Lub you" she says

And the Guppy looks up at me, smiles, and coos in that special way that she will only do for me. I pick her up, kiss her on the head, and breathe in that new baby smell, which she miraculously still has.

No, come to think of it....I wouldn't trade this life in for anything.

Goodbye Fast Life, Hello Motherhood....

Disgusting Baby Products

There are some baby products out on the market that I find disgusting. Now, I find a lot of baby products are OK as long as they are not abused. For instance, the car seat bucket for infants, the binky, etc. But there are a few that I find disgusting just for their purposes. There is the classical hands free feeding system, because God forbid someone actually have to hold their baby while feeding him or her. And now, there is this:

The Flying Falcon Infant Car Seat Carrier

Oh come on, you can't be serious. Ever hear of a sling? ::insert eye roll here::

Disgusting Baby Products

Epidurals and Breastfeeding

I saw this article in the news lately that I thought was very interesting. According to the study:

epidural anesthesia was significantly associated with difficulty breastfeeding in the few days after birth and with partial breastfeeding in the first week after delivery. In addition, the 416 women who had epidurals were twice as likely to completely stop breastfeeding before six months compared with women who used no analgesia, after controlling for maternal age and education. Seventy-two percent of women who had no analgesia were breastfeeding at 24 weeks compared with 53% whoreceived pethidine or epidurals containing bupivacaine and fentanyl (an opioid).

I personally feel that they are onto something here. I chose to have a homebirth with the Guppy because I didn't like the way the epidural and other pain meds I received during the Mermaid's birth effected both her and I. The Mermaid would not wake up for the first 48 hours to eat, which the nurses told me was normal with babies whose mothers had received epidurals. When she finally would wake up to nurse, we did have some nursing problems that resulted in trouble with weight gain. Thankfully, with some perseverance and the help of LLL, we were able to overcome these issues and continue to have a successful nursing relationship. So, to those women who received an epidural during labor, do you think it affected your nursing relationship at all?

Epidurals and Breastfeeding

Children and Toys

This past Friday while I was at my midwife's house, the Mermaid really enjoyed herself playing with the other children and with the toys that my midwife had around the house. My midwife is a really cool person, and very into natural and healthy things. I noticed that all the toys she had in her home were wooden toys or knitted toys....no plastic, no loud songs or voices, no constantly flashing bright lights. I noticed that this kept the mommy discussion going quite nicely, as we didn't have to yell to be heard over the toys. I also noticed that the Mermaid seemed to enjoy these types of toys more than her own! Rather than listen to what a hard plastic doll was shouting at her, she got to play with a soft, knit doll, and decide for herself what the doll would say. I couldn't believe I never realized how imaginative she really is, and I guess it was because the lights and sounds of her plastic toys really limited her. Then when I was looking for news to post about, I found this interesting article about how some toys can actually inhibit the child's learning process. Thus, I decided to start slowly switching over to wooden and other "natural" toys. For the Guppy's Christmas present we bought a couple wooden toys, and I also knit this:

I plan on making three more balls, a little bigger than this one, with all different colors. And I am also in the process of knitting the Guppy a stuffed pig. So, what do you think about toys these days? Do you prefer the more high tech toys, or the more basic and natural toys?

Children and Toys

Cloth Diapering

This past Friday I went to a Mother's Tea hosted by my midwife. The topic of the meeting was babywearing and cloth diapering. There were three pregnant women there and also other children. The Mermaid really enjoyed herself, although she did fall down some steps and got a bloody nose. My midwife couldn't get over how big the Guppy had gotten and loved holding her.
It was really fun to sit down with other like-minded women and discuss cloth diapering. In our experience, we first started using cloth diapers to save money. When we discovered all the other benefits, we decided not to switch back to disposables, even when though we could now afford it. It really amazed me that I prefer cloth over disposable, and it really makes me think of finding alternatives to other disposable products, and how those alternatives can help to lessen the impact on the environment that our disposable society causes.
Here are some links about the cloth vs. disposable debate in general:
The Top Ten Myths About Cloth Diapering
The Disposable Diaper Myth
The Cloth vs. Disposable Debate
So to those mommas out there who use cloth, why did you start and would you ever go back to disposable?

Cloth Diapering

James Kim, a Hero.

The Heroism of James Kim, by Scott Simon

Even in a week that's filled with bombings and poisoning investigations, for many people the saddest moment in the news was when Brian Anderson, an Oregon sheriff, had to turn away in tears as he announced that James Kim's body had been found.
"I'm crushed," he said. "He was a real superhero."
Mr. Kim and his wife Kati, their daughters -- 4-year-old Penelope and their 7-month-old baby Sabine -- were stranded in their car in a heavy snow after making a wrong turn onto a logging road west of Grant's Pass, Ore.
The Kims lived in San Francisco, where James Kim worked for a tech news Web site. His family owned two boutiques and a coffee shop where he stopped each day, buying a double latte in the morning and a frappe that he brought home to his wife each night.
They were driving home from Thanksgiving in Seattle, and missed a turn when snow began to fall; and their car got stuck.
The logging road they turned down should be blocked off by a gate in November, because it's considered hazardous in winter. But authorities said yesterday that vandals apparently cut the lock; and the gate was open.
For a week, the Kims huddled and ate berries, baby food and crackers. After a few days, they had to burn their tires to keep warm, and to try to attract attention. When they ran out of food, Kati Kim, who is still nursing their baby, breast-fed 4-year-old Penelope, too.
In these times of mobile phones, instant messages and global positioning satellites, it is hard to imagine that you can be lost and out of reach anywhere in the United States. Many news accounts have tried to imagine the pain, cold, hunger and fright the family must have felt -- the excruciating uncertainty, day after day, as they weren't found and couldn't know that hundreds of people were searching for them.
What might have been hardest for James and Kati Kim was to see and hear their children suffer.
So after a week stuck in the wilderness, and no sign of rescue, James Kim decided that a father has to do whatever he can to save his family -- or die trying. He struck out to try to find help. Hungry, weak, and wearing only street clothes, James Kim, a city boy from San Francisco, walked and crawled for ten miles over sharp ledges, through bristling forests and swam through freezing creek waters.
Two days after he left, Kati Kim and their daughters were found. Their health is good. But two days after that, James Kim was found dead in a ravine, of exposure.
So much of modern popular culture depicts parents who are goofy, foolish, clueless and slightly pathetic. Almost every parent is certain they would risk their life for those they love; James Kim actually made that sacrifice.
As Joe Hyatt, a member of the rescue team searching for James Kim, told reporters this week: "He must have been an extremely amazing individual. I would only hope I could do the same for my family."

:'(

James Kim, a Hero.

My body is a beach...

One of the sites that I visit regularly is The Shape of a Mother. It's a fantastic site to which real woman with real bodies submit pictures of said bodies. The pictures are beautiful, the mothers are beautiful. This site has really made me appreciate my body since I have started to read it. Anyways, this particular entry is so beautifully written it brought tears to my eyes, so I thought I would share it. Enjoy!

My body is a beach...

Holiday Shopping, HO HO HO

Tonight the Knight and I took the girls out to go Christmas shopping. We're lucky because the Mermaid is still young enough where she doesn't fully understand the concept of Santa, so we can take her shopping with us without ruining any surprises. We didn't get all our shopping done, but we did make a big dent. For the Mermaid, we got ponies for her to play with, fabric for a Dora pillow that I am going to make, a Dora toothbrush as a stocking stuffer, a pink Patriots football fleece, and other small toys. For the Guppy we got some wooden toys, some rattles, and clothes. I am also going to knit her some balls to play with and I started to knit her a pig, but I'm not sure if I will finish it in time. I also hope to start sewing her pocket diaper soon.
On the way home we put in some Christmas music, and I got to listen to my favorite Christmas song, Old City Bar. Tomorrow we will be busy putting up our Christmas decorations and wrapping presents!

Holiday Shopping, HO HO HO

Holiday Gatherings

It's been a while since I posted what the fam has been up to.

This past weekend we went to the IL's Christmas party, for my MIL's side. It was a lot of fun. Tons of kids running around, raffles, a Santa, gifts being given out, good food. The Mermaid had a blast, running around and playing with the other kids and with Grandpa. She wanted nothing to do with Santa, however.

She looked at him, terrified, the whole time!

The Guppy was more relaxed when it came for her turn.

Notice how her hot pink Fuzzi Bunz clashes with....well, everything else? ROFL!

Nothing else has been going on, really. We've just been trying to get our Christmas shopping done. We hope to finish it up this weekend and we are also going to put up our tree and decorations.

That's all I can think of right now. In the meantime, I leave you with the newest family pics. Click on the pic below to see the whole set.

Holiday Gatherings

Trajedy :o(

A sad update to the story of the Kim family. Today searches located the body of the father. CNN has the full story with video.

This is so incredibly sad. I was really hoping they would find him a live. The Kim family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Trajedy :o(

Amazing Story

In the past few days there has been an amazing story in the news about the Kim family. As you may recall, they were stranded during a snow storm in their car on a rural road for nine days. When they ran out of food, the mother kept her two children, seven months and four years old, alive by breastfeeding. The mother and two children were eventually found, but they are still searching for the father, who had left the car to go look for help.
For me, this story is both amazing and heartbreaking. Heartbreaking, of course, because they have yet to find the father. Amazing, because she managed to keep her children alive through breastmilk. It makes me wonder about all the "What If's?" Although I normally don't like to dwell upon the What If's, this story does make me think of them. What if the baby had been formula fed? What if they ran out of formula? What if? I can't even imagine being trapped in a car, freezing, with two young children. It must have been terrifying. I have great respect for this mother, who managed to stay calm and hold things together for her children. This story makes me very thankful that I breastfeed. If my family, God forbid, ever had an emergency like the one the Kim family experienced, it is good to know that I won't have to worry about formula, that I will have all my baby's needs with me.
Please send prayers/vibes/good thoughts to this family, that the father is found and that they full recover from their terrifying experience.

Amazing Story

In the News

Well lately there have been some interesting stories in the news. I found this article written for a conservative newsletter that is very much in favor of nursing in public. From the article:

Think about it. We’ve got people out there in the world who are offended by Christmas decorations, religious symbols, music, literature, movies, free speech (if they don’t agree with the speaker) and even the act of eating meat. What are
we supposed to do? Should we just stay at home, keep our mouths (and shirts)closed and read books about how to be more sensitive to others?
And now an arrogant flight attendant has chosen to be offended by the simple act of a mother feeding her child in the most natural and healthy way. What’s next? Seriously folks – we’re reaching a point in which just about anything we do or say runs the risk of offending someone else.

I also found this hilarious opinion piece in which the author responds to several comments against the Gillette family (who, you may recall, were kicked off an airplane for breastfeeding) and nursing in public in general.

And for good measure, here are one or two more articles on the nurse in at Delta ticket counters.

And here is a hilarious video about the flu shot, its ingredients, and people's reactions.



In other Lactivist news, Senator Krueger has introduced the Breastfeeding Mother's Bill of Rights. The Bill was introduced into the New York Senate and outlines rights of Breastfeeding Mothers, and also those women who are pregnant and planning on breastfeeding.

And, just because it's Monday and we can all use a good laugh, a funny breastfeeding video.

In the News

Patience is a Virtue...

...and it's one virtue that I simply lack. I really do not have any patience. I'm one of those people who have a million unfinished jobs sitting around the house, because of the fact that I don't have enough patience to finish a job. When I want something made, I want it made now. This is why I am so horrible at sewing. Pinning fabric together? Nah, takes too long. Pressing fabric? Nah, takes too long. And then I wonder why everything I sew comes out horrible. But I digress...the real reason I am writing about my problem with patience has to do, suprisingly, with potty training.
Lately I've been finding myself becoming more and more impatient with the fact that the Mermaid is not yet potty trained. This leaves me to do something that I swore I would never do - compare my child to other children. My impatience leads me to think to myself, as I am changing the Mermaid's diaper, "So and so's child is potty trained. Why isn't the Mermaid?"
Now, I also swore to myself that I would never push my child into doing something that she wasn't ready to do. Thus, my belief in child-led weaning and the fact that the Mermaid will remain in our bed until she decides to move into her own room. I have no problem giving little nudges to help my child along, but I refuse to push them before they are ready. So, while I haven't done anything to push the Mermaid into potty training, I have tried to nudge her into it. I bought a sticker chart for when she does use the potty, I've read books to her about it, I've bought her Dora underpants, etc. But so far, she is content to remain in diapers, much to my ever-increasing dismay. She has shown signs of being ready to use the potty....for instance, she does like to sit on the potty, but doesn't actually use it...she will run and tell us when she has a dirty diaper so that we can change it, etc. But if I ask her if she wants to use the potty she wants nothing to do with it.
We are also getting a lot of comments from family members, which certainly doesn't help. You know, the usual, "She's over two years old, she has to be potty trained" (Although I would love to be shown the law that states once a child is two years old they must be potty trained @@). People I've spoken to say, don't push it, one day she will just decide that she wants to use the potty. They tell tales of how their child just one day up and decided that diapers weren't for them and never looked back. This would be my ideal situation with the Mermaid, but agian, my impatience is driving me to wonder if she will EVER just decide that diapers aren't for her anymore.
I guess I just have to sit back and remind myself that the time will come. She won't be in diapers for the rest of her life. In the meantime, does anyone out there have any tips? Am I going about this all wrong? Is there a better way? Or am I just a lazy parent who isn't putting enough effort into the process? For those parents who were in my situation, please give me assurance that my daughter will not be in diapers when she is five or even four...a little assurance will do me a lot of good right now...

Patience is a Virtue...

Oh, boy!

Did your kid ever do or say something that made you think, "Now where did he/she get that from?" There is always the story where the child comes out and swears and the parents argue, "She gets it from you" and "No she gets it from you."
Lately the Mermaid has begun to show such enthusiasm for everything and we really can't figure out where she gets it from. Not that the Knight and I aren't enthusiastic...well, maybe we aren't. We are both very happy people, but I wouldn't go so far as to say we are enthusiastic. But the Mermaid exclaims with joy over everything! And lately her favorite expression has been, "Oh, boy!" As in:
"Oh, boy! A Kitty!"
"Oh, boy! Apple!"
"Oh, boy! Lovie!"
And my personal favorite, whenever we give her something, it's "Oh, boy! Thank you!"
Neither the Knight or I use the expression, "oh, boy!" so it remains a mystery on where she picked it up from. But for the past two weeks, as she has continually used this phrase and spoken about things with such enthusiasm, I find myself liking it. And I find myself getting more enthusiastic about life in general. Such as:
"Oh, boy! I managed to get the laundry done!"
"Oh, boy! I actually was able to cook something for dinner!"
And although we've all been sick this past week, I've tried to not let that get in the way of my newly found enthusiasm.
"Oh, boy! The Guppy threw up all over our nice clean sheets for the second time today!"
"Oh, boy! I get to chase the Mermaid around so I can try to give her medicine!"
"Oh, boy! I get to spend my day picking up used Kleenex!"
Well, I'm trying at least. But it's nice to know that my daughter, at two years old, can already teach her parents some lessons on life. There's always something you can find in your day to be enthusiastic about, even if it is just that oh, boy! the day will soon be ending and you can always start fresh tomorrow (hopefully with clean sheets!).

Oh, boy!

Sleep Soundly, Little One...

A while back in my old journal I posted an entry describing how co sleeping saved my daughter's life. I love co sleeping with our kids and so does the Knight. There is nothing more comforting than knowing that your children are right beside you and that you are right near them to take care of all their needs.
When the Guppy was born the Knight and I found our bed to be a little crowded with the four of us. So we went out and bought a cheap air mattress to put next to our bed with the intention of having the Guppy and I sleep on the mattress while the Knight and the Mermaid remain in the bed. While it hasn't worked out quite as we planned, we now have plenty of room. The Mermaid decided that she wanted to sleep on the air mattress by herself, which was fine with us. For Christmas, MIL is buying her a toddler sized air mattress that has Dora the Explorer on it and I am planning on making a matching pillow. We are hoping that she will be so excited about her very own Dora bed that she will want to sleep in it all the time, and that will open the door for a slow and tearless transition into her own room. But for now, I am content to allow her to sleep with us, especially now that she is sick again. The poor girl was up all night coughing and sneezing :o(.
Co sleeping with the Guppy is also wonderful as it allows me to sleep while she nurses at night. Plus, there is nothing better than sleeping next to your baby, especially when she still has that "new baby" smell. Last night the Guppy slept through the night and when I woke up my breasts were very engorged. It's nice to know that she feels secure and safe at night, knowing I am right there to satisfy any needs she has.
There is no doubt that there are many benefits to co sleeping. Mothers and their babies have slept side by side throughout history. Never mind the fact that co sleeping decreases the risk of SIDS. It angered me when the AAP came out with it's new policy against co sleeping, stating that parents should keep babies in a separate bed and have them sleep with pacifiers. There is much debate over the studies the AAP based their statement on, including the fact that it was sponsored by companies that make cribs and pacifiers, and that they did not differentiate between suffocation and SIDS when looking at cases where the baby died while sleeping in the same bed as the parents. If done safely, co sleeping is safer for the baby than having the baby sleep alone in a crib. But again, it must be done safely.
Now that I have shared my co sleeping experience with you, I am interested to hear your stories. What are your experiences with co sleeping, do you have any specific stories to share?

Sleep Soundly, Little One...

Two Month Old Letter

Today you are two months old. Where has the time gone? It seems like it was only yesterday that I was in the birthing tub, pushing you out into the world. You've grown so much, and all on Mommy's milk. Yet you are still so small, fragile, and innocent. It never ceases to amaze me how such a small person can have such a huge impact on our lives. I can barely recall what life was like without you. You have added so much joy to our family and lives, you truly are a gift from God.
Your personality shines through more and more each day. You love to smile and talk, and you love to try to talk and eat at the same time, which can make breastfeeding a messy adventure, but I don't mind. You are so strong and can hold your head up for long periods of time. You love being held, and hate being alone. Sometimes I get annoyed when I have a lot of things to do and you won't let me put you down. But then, the second I am finally able to put you down, my arms ache to hold you again. Truthfully, I love that you love being held. I love being able to sit down and relax and worry about nothing, and only having to watch your beautiful eyes look around in wonder as you lay in my arms. I feel that we are so bonded that you are somewhat of an extension of myself; when you laugh, I laugh; when you cry, I cry; when you smile, I smile. Your smile is beautiful, and of course there is that mysterious dimple that only I seem to be able to catch a peep of when you smile especially big.
I love watching you sleep at night, and especially in the mornings. I love that you sleep later than the rest of us, so that I can watch you sleep. Your little hands reach out in your dreams, are you reaching for me? Your lips and tongue move in a sucking motion, are you dreaming about nursing? When you do wake up, you are so patient. You don't cry out or get fussy, you just roll on your side so that you are facing me and wait for me to realize that you are awake. Everyone always talks about how quiet and content you are, and it makes me feel so good that you don't feel the need to cry out when you want something; you know that I am already right there to take care of you, no matter what time it is. I love that we co sleep so that you don't feel lonely in your crib at night. You never nurse to sleep, instead you like to nurse until your full and then gaze into my eyes until finally your eyelids droop and you race off to dreamland.
I am so excited to see what this year will bring for us. To watch you grow and develop makes me so happy, and I look forward to it immensely. Just promise me that you won't grow up too fast. Promise that you will always love to be held. Promise that you will continue to know that I am right here for you at all times, no matter what. Promise that you will always feel secure and confident in your surroundings, little Guppy. Promise me...

Two Month Old Letter

Baking is not my forte....

So I decided to make cupcakes to bring to my IL's and my aunts. I saw these in a magazine and thought they were adorable, and hell, they are cupcakes, easy enough, right?

um....wrong! First I couldn't find candy corn or the shortbread cookies they used here anywhere! So I had to use substitutes. And I'm just bad at baking in general. So, here are my "turkey" cupcakes....

Hey, they're just for eating, not a bakery contest. :oP

Baking is not my forte....

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. The fam and I are going over to my MIL and FIL's house for dinner and then my aunt's house for dessert. Stay safe on the roads and have fun eating lots of food! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving

Dads and Breastfeeding

Thanks to Motherwear blog for the heads up on these two videos! The first shows a debate between two men on whether or not women have the right to breastfeed in public. The second shows what happens when a man willingly subjects himself to the powers of the pump.

Dads and Breastfeeding

Success at Logan

Well I am really bummed that I missed the national nurse in. I would've gone to Logan Airport in Boston, where seven mothers and their nursing babes showed up. They got quite a bit of media attention, including:
Fox, NECN (video), and CBS (video). The nurse in in general was a huge success, and I think the message that breastfeeding is normal and natural was well received in most areas. Hopefully I will be able to contribute in future nurse ins!

Success at Logan

Pictures from Dinner

Yes, I do take pictures of everything...

Pictures from Dinner

Finally feeling up to life

Well I'm back after being sick for four days straight. I had horrible strep throat, migraines, and a head cold to boot. I couldn't eat any solids and was on a liquid diet, I lost five pounds in those four days alone. I was treating my throat with GSE and salt water, but the GSE didn't seem to be working. So finally, on Sunday night I switched over to Apple Cider Vinegar and went to bed...by morning my throat was 100% better. I had also used lemon tea with honey, and vitamin C. Luckily no one else caught it, I was very careful in keeping my kids from getting sick...that would be the last thing I would need.

This morning is the National Nurse In at all Delta ticket counters to protest the treatment of the breastfeeding woman who was kicked off a Delta flight for breastfeeding. I was planning on going but I am not fully recovered yet (I still have a horrible cough) and I can't find a sitter for the Mermaid. I would've loved being there though, hopefully the Nurse In gets lots of positive media attention. I do have some more articles to share about the nurse in: over at Mothering.com they have ongoing coverage of the situation; Messa Air Group made a statement about the incident; and if you want to sign a petition in support of breastfeeding moms, you can do so here.
Well that's it for now, although I am sure I will be posting later on some other stuff that I have been thinking about.

Finally feeling up to life

Five for Friday

Five for Friday:
1. What one thing have you lost that you'd most like to have back?
My pre-pregnancy body.

2. What is the one thing you have that you wish you could get rid of?
That one is easy....DEBT!

3. What is the one thing you have that you pray you'd never lose?
My family

4. What is the biggest financial loss that you've ever experienced?
The day I received a credit card.

5. When have you most felt like losing it?
oh, too many times to count.

Five for Friday

Vote on new pics!

Ok, so I'm sick as a dog right now so I won't be posting for a little bit....but we did get our pics back from the photographer and I'd appreciate it if you would vote on which ones you like the best. I divided them into different albums, please pick one from each album that is labled "proff pics" and vote for it by commenting.

Go vote! You know you want to!

Vote on new pics!

Delta Airlines, in a Heap of Trouble

So, I've been a little behind on what's going on in the news lately. The big story right now concerns Delta Airlines. Delta Airlines has broken the law by forcing a woman and her family to leave their flight because she was breastfeeding her child. The stewardess had offered a blanket, which the mother refused, so they were then asked to get off the plane. From the articles, it sounds like she was being very discreet and modest in her nursing. Delta Airlines is now being sued, and I hope they end up paying for her child's college education. There has also been an organized nurse in at the airport in support of the mom.

Other things I've noticed in the news lately...a little article on Dr. Sears and his family, and healthy living...an article about another organized nurse-in at a movie theatre.....and finally, an article on how hospitals are attempting to become more breastfeeding friendly. Enjoy!

Delta Airlines, in a Heap of Trouble

Do You Wear Your Baby?

Yesterday I went to a local meeting of NINO, a babywearing group. It was pretty cool. All the ladies there were really really nice and their kids were adorable! Some of them even use cloth diapers, so yay! I'm not the only one anymore ;o) The Mermaid had a lot of fun too, but she wanted to leave early. We stayed for about two hours and I got to try out a ring sling. I think I will like it for when the Guppy is older, right now she seemed to get a little lost in it.

Today I am sick so I am basically doing nothing. Just relaxing. I want to be well so I can go to the other local LLL meeting tomorrow morning. Send me get well vibes!

Do You Wear Your Baby?

Don't Worry, It's Ok....

I woke up at three in the morning with a horribly sore throat and runny nose. After gargling salt water I went back to bed and saw that the Knight had his eyes open.

Me: Babies, I'm sick.
Knight: Really? *pause* Are you going to go to work today?
Me: (at this point I realize he is talking in his sleep) Um....baby? I don't work.....
Knight: Oh.....well, don't worry, that's ok.

Well, it's good to know that I don't have to worry about not working :o) At least I know that he's not one of those guys who resents having to bring home all "the bacon" while I get to stay home with the kids ;o)

Don't Worry, It's Ok....

Social Butterfly

This morning I took the girls to the local LLL meeting. There were about four other kids there that close to the Mermaid's age, I'd say between 3-5 years old. Now, the Mermaid very rarely gets to play with other kids. There aren't any other kids in the family, at least that we see regularly. And while we have been to a few play dates, they were back when the Mermaid was much younger and didn't really realize what was going on. So I was a little curious on how she would react to these other children.

Well I had no reason to worry. My daughter is a social butterfly.

The older children played while the mommies sat around in a circle with the babies and talked about, well, breastfeeding of course. And while I was keeping an eye on the Mermaid through the whole meeting, it wasn't until later until I realized what was going on. I had just packed the Guppy up in her carseat and was looking for the Mermaid to put her jacket on when I saw her playing across the room with the other kids. I mean, I really saw her. And all I could do was watch, and feel really proud. The other kids were so great with her, they were all older but they were doing their hardest to include her in their games. And she was so incredibly happy to be included. I don't think I've ever seen her laugh so much before as she ran around with them while playing tag. The oldest, a five year old, gave her a piggy back ride. She was having so much fun that I unpacked the Guppy and decided to stay a while longer, as I didn't want to end her playing.
The kids set out to teach her tag and she picked up on it pretty quickly. When a younger child fell, she ran over and helped him up. I was a little worried when the game started to get a little rough, as the older boys started pushing her a little. But she wanted no part of that! She promptly stood up, shouted "Stop that! No!" and that was that, they moved on. No need to worry about her being bullied around!
Towards the end of the game the five year old got a little excited and ended up pushing her down again. This time his mother saw it and sent him to sit in a corner. The Mermaid wandered over to him, said, "Come on!" and tried to get him to play some more. His words? "I can't, I have to sit here because I pushed you....I'm sorry." awww. When the Mermaid realized that he couldn't leave the corner, she proceeded to bring all the toys in the room over to him and sat next to him to play. What a sweetie!
Everyone ooh'ed and awww'ed over the Guppy, of course. She was so content through the whole meeting. I also met another Momma that cloth diapered, which was really cool. By the end of the meeting I had signed on to the planning board and I am going to be in charge of publishing. What does the publishing person do? I have no clue. But I'm up to doing anything to help. We have our first planning meeting at the end of the month.

The Guppy was cranky all night last night so the two of us didn't sleep well, which led to me sleeping through my hour of exercise. She's been very needy today also, wanting to be held even more than usual. So, I haven't gotten much house work done and dinner isn't even on my mind, but as I sit here right now she is in my arm, smiling and cooing at me.......so I really could care less.

Social Butterfly

Just Another Manic Monday...

This weekend was a pretty good weekend. Friday night we went out with the IL's to get pictures taken and then out to eat. The Mermaid cried most of the time, but we did get some good pics of the four of us. We also got some good pics of the Mermaid on a rocking horse and on a little bench. We took pics of the Guppy which came out really good, pics of the Knight and I with the Guppy, and some nursing pics of the Guppy and I with some of the Knight too. As soon as I get the pics I will post them.

Saturday we got all our grocery shopping done. It was an expensive week for us this week, since we needed a lot of things. And Sunday we got a lot done around the house. Well, at least I did. The Knight gave the girls their baths and kept them occupied so I could get housework done.

I have three "playdates" to go to this week that I am really excited about. It stinks that right now we are down to one car, so I have to drop the Knight off at work and then make sure I am on time to pick him up. Two of the playdates are LLL meetings and then the other playdate is for a new babywearing group that was formed. I'm hoping the other ladies will have more experience with pouches and how to nurse with them :o)

Here are some pictures from the weekend, which I also added to the pics of family set at Flickr.

After her bath

Look at those beautiful eyes!

Daddy loves his little girl!

The Guppy with my sister

I'm kind of hoping her eyes stay this color!

Yes, that is the Mermaid watching Star Trek....the Knight is determined to turn her into a Trekkie.

Just Another Manic Monday...

And While We're At It...

Top Ten Rules for People Who Aren't the Parents...

1) If we are not seeking your advice, don't offer it. We don't want to hear it. We are not interested in it. Shoving unsolicited advice in our faces only makes us resent you and having our children around you.

2) Just because you have more children than us, or you are older than us, or any other circumstance that can be applied in this situation, does NOT make you more experienced or better at parenting than we are. Do not tell us that you are more experienced at parenting because you are NOT. You may have more experience raising you OWN child or children, but the only people that have experience raising our children is us! So don't assume you know more than us and that we need your help in raising them!

3) If we have different parenting styles and beliefs than you do, that's okay. Diversity makes the world fun. But just because we parent differently does not make us wrong. Don't tell us how to raise our children, don't tell us that we are doing things wrong, and don't argue with us about it. Respect our parenting choices and move on. The more you argue with us the more we will resent you and the less you will see our children. Simple as that.

4) We understand that aunts/family friends/grandparents may want to "spoil" the children. But do not tell us that it is your "right" to spoil them. Giving them lots of attention? Go for it. Letting them get away with a LITTLE more than their parents do? I guess that's okay. Talking to them and spending time with them? Great. All these are good ways to "spoil" our children. Buying large amounts of toys for every visit? Not okay. Buying HUGE amounts of toys for holidays? Definitely not Okay. You are not "spoiling" our children by doing this, you are wasting your money. They don't play with all the toys you buy them, and here's a secret...since we have no room for them anyway, half of them get donated or thrown away. So stop wasting your money and time.

5) We understand that when we leave our children in your hands we leave a lot of stuff up to your discretion. But if you know for sure that we do not like our children pigging out on junk food...don't feed them junk food. We are only going to hate you that night as our kids are bouncing off the walls on a sugar high and you won't babysit ever again. This applies to any guidelines that we set with the children. Follow the rules, even if you don't like them.

6) Comparing our children to other children? Not cool. Just don't do it. For example, no parent wants to hear, "Why isn't child potty trained yet? So-and-so down the street is the same age as her and has been potty trained for a while now."

7) If we have more than one child, treat them all the same. No one likes to see all the attention heaped on one of their children while the other is practically ignored. That's just cruel.

8) Seeing our children is a privilege, not a right. Don't complain if you don't get to see them every day/weekend. We have stuff to do too, and while we love having you spend time with our children, we aren't about to schedule our life around when you want to see them. Deal with it.

9) If we are disciplining our child/children in front of you, don't contradict us. Don't tell us we are being too harsh, or not harsh enough, or doing it wrong. We don't want to hear it. On that note, if we are in the same room, don't try to discipline our children for us. That's our job.

10) If you plan on giving our child/children a large present, discuss it with us first. It is a parent's worst nightmare when someone shows up with a puppy for the child/children, or tickets to an all day event when the child is too young to be separated from his or her parents that long.

Follow these rules, and we can all get along nicely :o)

And While We're At It...

Sacred Rules for Non-Pregnant People....

...with my comments included.

Top Ten List for People Who Aren't the Pregnant Couple
1) The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is "Congratulations!" with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.

With my first pregnancy, I got a lot of mixed reactions, since the baby was a surprise. With the Guppy's pregnancy, luckily I only got excited reactions.

2) Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father- not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase "my baby".

Luckily no one has ever referred to my babies as "their baby". I would have kicked their ass if they did.

3) On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in #2, the pregnancy, birth and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it.

I wish more people realized this, too. I had a lot of people telling me that I "had" to do this or I "had" to do that. For example, before we knew that the Guppy was a girl I mentioned to someone that if the baby was a boy we weren't going to circumcize. Her response? "OMG you HAVE to circumcise!" Um....why? Is there a law saying we do? No? Then BUTT OUT. With the Mermaid's pregnancy I also had someone say that they will keep formula in the house because they knew "I would want to supplement". Well thanks for the vote of confidence :o/

4) The body of a pregnant women should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.

This REALLY irritated me. When I was pregnant both times, all of a sudden my belly was deemed public property. Do NOT touch the belly of a pregnant woman, it is RUDE! And no, it is none of your business what my cervix is doing, thank-you-very-much.

5) Likewise, no women wants to hear comments on her weight- ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is "You look fabulous!".

Luckily in my case, the people who knew me knew better than to comment on my weight. I did get a lot of "you look fabulous" from my Aunt and my cousin (thank you, ladies!). Sometimes strangers would make comments, but I would just ignore them.

6) By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes.

Yes, Yes, Yes! And when you do see us hot and sweaty, there is no need to point it out by saying, "You look really hot".

7) There is a reason that tickets to L&D are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents.

Yup. I invited only the people I was comfortable having there. And it worked out well.

8) Like everything else is life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital and the parents home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to "help out". If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

Self explanatory. Don't assume a pregnant woman is going to want you at her house at all hours to "help out". I know with the Guppy's birth, I just wanted us to be left alone.

9) If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

Yes! It would drive me NUTS when people would say, "Oh do you want me to hold the baby so you can do laundry/wash dishes/pick up after the mess I just made while visiting you?"

10) The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

This is so true, especially the last part. After the Guppy's birth we had a week long baby moon and told everyone not to visit. The more people complained, the more we resented having them over at all. Seeing the newborn baby is a priviledge, not a right. It is not about you, it is about the parents and their new baby.

Thou shalt not fuck with these laws, at least if you want to stay on the good side of the pregnant mom.

Sacred Rules for Non-Pregnant People....

Breastfeeding conjoined twins

I have great respect for the mom featured in this article. Not only is she breastfeeding twins, no small feat in itself, but they are conjoined! Kudos to her for her dedication to giving her daughters the best nutrition possible!

Conjoined Babies a Blessing, Says Mom

From the article:

But these babies are joined at the head and breast feeding them is a
challenging dance that takes two people and a whole lot of patience, something their 21-year-old mother, Felicia Simms, seems to have in abundance. ...

"It’s very complicated because when one is on the breast the other has to be tilted and has to be slanted downwards. "You’re feeding one and the other will suck on its tongue and you have to give it a soother or something because it wants food. "We’re trying to figure out how to feed both of them at the same time," Simms said, bursting out laughing.
Laughter punctuates much of Simms’s conversations about the twins.
"It’s quite awkward," she said about breastfeeding mechanics, although she appeared impossibly relaxed about a situation that would overwhelm most people.

Breastfeeding conjoined twins

Snippets of My Morning....

A little head peeks over the bed
"Wake up Mommy!"
Guppy on my breast, first nursing of the morning
Sweet smell of baby and milk
the Knight and the Mermaid laughing
sounds and smells of breakfast

Quick! In goes a load of laundry,
bathroom now clean, showering done
breastfast dishes done, finally sit
Another nursing for sweet Guppy
more sweet baby and milk,
the Mermaid comes, time to cuddle.

"Mommy, hug" she says
Small sweet arms around my neck
Wet little kisses on my cheek
"Mommy, lub you" she says
Please don't let this moment end....

Snippets of My Morning....

Friday Night

Not much of a day today. I'm still stuck at home due to lack of a car. Currently my car: has a flat tire; has no brake lights; has an expired inspection sticker; is overdue for an oil change; and the check engine light is on.

Man, I would kill for a minivan right now.

Our plan is to trade in my car hopefully soon so we can get a van. It is so incredibly crowded with both the kids and all their stuff, and I really don't feel safe in that little car anymore (VW Jetta). We haven't gotten a van yet because of ....money.

Lack of money is why we are living in my mom's house.....why we are doing some serious budgeting for Christmas....why we have to question every purchase we make, asking ourselves, "Is it something we really need?"

Don't get me wrong, we are doing good. We've paid off a lot of our debt. And I know we could be a lot more worse off. I'm thankful that the Knight has a reliable job, that he has consistently gotten promotions and raises that helped us to pay of debt, that his hours are great and he gets so spend time with the kids.

Oh, but to be able to go out just once and buy myself new clothes without feeling guilty. Or I should say, to be able to go out and just buy new clothes!

Don't mind me, I'm just bumming today. I have to look on the positive side of things. Real Estate prices are going down. And I'm going to get a job soon, and that will help. I've applied to one company and I plan on applying to more. I really need a part time job. Wish me luck!

Tonight: my ex-step-grandfather's wake, followed by pictures and dinner with the IL's. Have a good night everyone!

Friday Night

Four for Friday

Four for Friday (last one, I promise):

Q1 - Iraq: On Monday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he opposed the death penalty for former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein but that his trial had reminded the world of the deposed leader's brutality. Even if Hussein loses his appeal and dies on the gallows, it probably will have little effect on the future of Iraq, experts say. What do you think...should Saddam Hussein's death penalty be carried out, and if so, what kind of impact do you think it will have in the U.S. action in Iraq?

I was always on the fence with the death penalty. I don't think it helps to avert crime and I do think it's hypocritical. But considering the extent of Hussein's crimes, and the amount of death he has caused, for him I would say it should be carried out. And I do agree with the experts, I think the toppling of his government had a huge impact in Iraq, one that will be felt whether he lives or dies.

Q2 - College: If you went to college, did you learn more from the social or academic aspects of the experience? If you didn't go to college, do you wish you had?

I did go to college, and I did learn a lot. I loved college, and the thing I loved most about it was how the classes were structured so openly, with a lot of debate and talking in general. I think I learned more from the social aspects that occurred while learning the academic aspects.

Q3 - Life and Religion: A friend's teenage son recently said that one of the problems he has with fundamental religion is that it teaches that we are all bad and that we are only going to be rewarded if we make all the right choices and do all the right things. He then said, "Life isn't the test; it's a time for learning." Your thoughts?

I don't think the basis of all religions is that we are all bad and therefore have to make up for it by making the right choices. I do think life is more of a time for learning rather than a test; or rather, it should be.

Q4 - Whodunit: If you could solve any unsolved crime in history (or prove with certainty that a particular crime was incorrectly solved, and resolve it), which one would you choose?

Who killed JFK.

Four for Friday

Friday Five

Today's Friday Five:


1.When was the last time you did something against your better judgment, and what was the outcome?

Hmmm this is a tough one. I would have to say, on Sunday, I drove my car around at night even though both the brake lights were out and the inspection sticker was expired. I did get pulled over, but the officer was kind enough to just give me a verbal warning.

2.Who in your life seems to be a keen judge of character?

I would say that I'm a pretty good keen judge of character. However, my sister can also be counted on for giving a pretty acurate description of someone's character.

3.If there is such a thing as Judgment Day, what do you think it will be like?

I'm not sure on this one. I would have to say, very confusing and also a little sad...sad for those who will be left behind.

4.What were the circumstances that led you to the last time you stood before a judge?

When I was 16 and a half, my father let my insurance and registration expire on my car without informing. Of course, I got into a car accident and had to appear in court for the lack of insurance and registration. I got six months of probation and then six months after that had my record expunged.

5.If a panel of judges were to evaluate your last potluck contribution, what might their comments be?

If a panel of judges were to eat any of my cooking, they'd be luck if they didn't end up in the hospital :o)

Friday Five

Father's Day Video

So I finally got a YouTube account and I uploaded a video that I thought I'd share. This is the video I made for the Knight this past Father's Day. It goes from the Mermaid's birth all the way to the middle of my pregnancy with the Guppy. Enjoy!

Father's Day Video

Car Seat safety continued...

A couple days ago, on the old blog, I wrote a post about the importance of a five point harness and the safety of extended-rear facing that included a heartbreaking video. I just want to add to that idea that no matter how safe your car seat is rated to be, if it is installed incorrectly or if it doesn't fit in your car like it should, it is still unsafe. There are many sites out there that will tell you which car seats are compatible with your car, including this one, CarSeat Compatibility Search. You also want to make sure you have your seat installed by a certified technician, often at your local fire department or police department. When buying a car seat, you should also be sure to try it out in your car before purchasing. Most stores will allow you to try the seat out first. If they don't, take your business to a store that will.

Car Seat safety continued...

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is "attachment parenting"?

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Attachment Parenting is a way of parenting with the idea of fostering a close relationship between the parent and the baby by responding to the child's cues and needs. Attachment parenting is not "doormat parenting", or spoiling the child. Most parents who practice attachment parenting usually breastfeed, co-sleep, wear their babies, etc. although these practices are not required. For more information, please view the Eight Principles of Attachment Parenting.

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Wait, you had a homebirth? Isn't that dangerous?

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Actually, no. In fact, statistics show that for a healthy woman who is having a normal and uncomplicated pregnancy, having a homebirth may even be the safer option. I had three trained and experienced midwives at my homebirth who were there for the purpose of recognizing signs of complications and acting appropriately if such complications did arise. If you have any further questions about homebirth, please don't hesitate to email me.

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Why don't you vaccinate your children?

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Whether or not to vaccinate your children is a very personal decision. When it comes to our family, the Knight and I decided that it was best to not vaccinate. While I would never tell another parent how to raise their child, I would highly recommend doing the research that is needed to come to your own educated decision. Don't go on just what I say or the doctor says: find out if it is the right decision for you. You can read my posts on vaccinations here, here and here.

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What are your BIG dreams for the future?

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My husband and I decided a little while ago that we were going to take action to improve our lives. We have since made several changes, including: paying off debt through Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover; we became vegetarians; we both started businesses that will one day allow us to work from home and be more involved with our chilren; finally, we've started to live a more green and natural lifestyle and we're teaching our children to do the same. Our big goals is that in five to seven years we will be completely debt free, except for our mortgage. We will both be home with our children. And we will be building a secure financial future for ourselves and our kids.

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Thank you for reading the FAQ's. If you have any more questions, feel free to email me!

FAQ's

The loss of a good man....

We found out today that my ex-step father's father died (my ex-step grandfather). "Papa" was a wonderful, sweet man. The kind of man that would never hurt a fly, the kind of man babies smile for. He was very sick in the end and I am glad that he is no longer suffering. Please send prayers this way for his family.

Papa's wake is on Friday, which conflicts with our plans to have family portraits taken with the IL's for their wedding anniversary present. We figure if we go to the wake first we will probably be able to make it to the picture appointment in time.

Two night ago the Mermaid slept in her own room, in her own bed, all by herself! I was hoping that she would repeat this act, but last night she insisted on coming back into our bed, which I was fine with. I do love co sleeping, and I won't force her to leave the bed until she decides for herself that she is ready.

Last night I had my six week post-partum checkup with my midwife. I am all healed up and ready to go! While we were there she weighed the Guppy....a whopping 12 lbs 10 oz! My what a big girl! I was looking at the Mermaid's medical records the other day and she didn't hit 12 lbs until she was three months old.

In other news....you will all think I am crazy, but I swear this is true. I have it on videotape to prove it, and as soon as I figure out how, I will upload it. But the Guppy, at only six weeks old, already laughs and smiles. Really, she does. She also holds her head up really really well...and today she rolled over onto her side. On purpose. She is sooo strong.

Well that is all for now. I will update more later. Have a goodnight!

The loss of a good man....

Meet The Family!

First, there's me. Mother, friend, doula, knitter. I'm a single mother who is homeschooling my children while I build my business. I'm a romantic at heart but my perfectionism gets in my way a lot. I'm basically a small town girl with BIG dreams for financial peace, a stable family, and a secure future. I started this blog when I began to feel a little judged about my attachment parenting lifestyle. I'm big on natural living, treading small, and raising my kids to love themselves, their family, and the Earth. If you want to know more about me, view my interview at 5 Minutes for Mom.


Next we have my oldest daughter, the Mermaid. She was born on September 3rd, 2004: a medicated vaginal birth in a hospital. Feisty as they come, she keeps us laughing at all hours with her antics. She loves learning, playing outside, hopscotch, dancing and painting. She also completely adores her sister and is absolutely fearless. Don't let her cuteness fool you there: she does have quite the temper and is fiercely independent!

Meet my youngest daughter, the Guppy. She was born on September 26th, 2006: an unmedicated waterbirth at home. Yes, at almost 2 years old she is still nursing and co-sleeping. She loves drawing, babies, and reading books. She insists on wearing dresses every day and has quite an impressive shoe fetish. She loves to cuddle with her mama and dadda to the point where we sometimes call her our little "Klingon". But don't let that fool you: she's as independent as her oldest sister and knows how to stand her ground on at the playground!
Finally, The Tadpole. He was born in the water at home on May 23, 2010. My only son, he brings joy to our lives every day.

That's our family. We may be weird, but we have big dreams and we're determined to reach them. So come along and join us on our journey - the more the merrier!

Meet The Family!