I enjoyed PixieDusk's geocaching photos last week - a caching family ourselves, I know how much fun this can be!
Usual rules...
Happy photo-taking and memory-making!
Friday, 30 May 2014
Family Photo Friday #21- 30/05/2014
I still find too often that it's me left behind the camera. Don't get me wrong, I really do not enjoy having my picture taken, but I look back through my early photos of Effy and there are so few of her and I together. I'm trying hard to rectify this by passing the camera to others, but D is awful at just picking it up and I think my DSL is daunting to others. So, in a bid to get more pictures, here's Lowen and I when we were out in Coventry last week. There's another post to follow about what took us to Coventry... Keep your eyes peeled.
I enjoyed PixieDusk's geocaching photos last week - a caching family ourselves, I know how much fun this can be!
Usual rules...
Share a family photo from your week just gone. It needn't be a Family Photo Friday specific post, I don't mind you recycling! You can join in weekly, monthly or just whenever you can. It can be a formal portrait or a snap from your phone, something you posed for or something you caught when no one was looking. It could be from a day out, a gathering, an activity at home, it doesn't matter so long as it gives a snap shot of what your family looked like during the week that's just been.
Give us a brief explanation of your photo.
I'd love it if you could grab the badge to add at the bottom of your post and Tweet about it using #familyphotofriday - my Twitter handle is @oneformybaby12.
Pop over to visit at least two other bloggers and see what they've been doing - maybe you can watch their family grow and change too!
Leave a comment if you can.
I promise to visit as many of you as I can and I'll pick my favourite photo to share next Friday.
Happy photo-taking and memory-making!
I enjoyed PixieDusk's geocaching photos last week - a caching family ourselves, I know how much fun this can be!
Usual rules...
Happy photo-taking and memory-making!
Word of the Week
The wet weather has been awful hasn't it? Not the half term we'd all hoped for!
That said, it's been a week of sorting, which is always good.
Is you saw my alphabet photo this week, you'll know I was photographing some inherited china to sell and hopefully make space in my dining room; and sell I did. Some to an old friend, some to a blogging buddy and some to a local lady!
There's also been the stuff for the bin, stuff for charity, some eBay selling... Very cathartic!
I've also sorted plans for Lowen's baptism which is not far away now.
Lowen moved into her sister's bedroom this week, so we've started packing up the crib and the already outgrown and redundant baby stuff and getting it back in the loft, claiming back the spare room.
Effy is enjoying sorting too... By shape, by colour, by animal and talking about it a lot too.
So, my word of the week is...
...and it feels GOOD!
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
C is for...
I inherited a lot of stuff when my mum passed away in 2006. A whole house of it, to be precise. I was 19 and had no idea to do with a lot of it, and bits got stored all over the place. My dad recently returned an assortment of china to me and it's beautiful but I just don't have room to display or store it so yesterday I was photographing it to sell (as I'm sure my Instagram buddies will already have seen!). I love this pretty little set.
C is for china.
C is for china.
Linking up with PODcast and the #alphabetphoto linky
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Sling it, Mama! #9 Guest Post: Stretchy Wraps
We're continuing to explore babywearing options this week with Abigail... A fabulously informative post from a very knowledgeable lady indeed who has found time to pen this, thanks no doubt to having wrapped up her tiny baby for a bit... Thanks Abigail!
A stretchy wrap is pretty much what the name suggests, a long length of stretchy fabric wrapped around the body to carry the baby in place. I found wrapping totally confusing when I had my daughter in 2011. I had a Kari-Me stretchy wrap but gave up pretty soon after a couple of rather half hearted attempts. I found the sheer amount of fabric completely overwhelming and my daughter screamed blue murder whenever I tried to manoeuvre her into position. So the wrap went on eBay and I got a mei tai which I found much easier. I always wished I'd persevered with wrapping though and even mastered a woven wrap when she was older and felt more robust. But I felt sure when I had another baby I would master the stretchy!
Strechies made perfect sense to me for newborns. They hold the baby super snugly in an anatomically correct position, with baby's head against mother's chest so they can hear their heartbeat, all mimicking the environment of the womb. I'm a firm believer in the idea of a 4th trimester and allowing your baby to make that slow transition from womb to world. They're perfect for combining your baby's need to be held close with your own need to play with an older child or simply do a bit of washing up!
I finally learned to use a stretchy wrap during my training as a BabyCalm teacher. I soon realised how easy it was once I'd seen someone demonstrate it, rather than trying to read an instruction book with one hand and manoeuvre a wriggly baby into a length of fabric with the other! Once I started teaching other mums it became second nature so I couldn't wait to wrap my son when I was pregnant with him.
The great thing about stretchy wraps is that you pre-tie them, meaning you tie the wrap around you first then "scootch" the baby in. No complicated holding baby in position while wrapping the fabric around them. Once the wrap is on you can simply pop baby in and out for feeds or nappy changes throughout the day, with a few minor adjustments to make sure you are following the babywearing safety guidelines known as TICKS*.
Using a stretchy wrap is second nature to me now. We haven't used the pram since my daughter was a couple of months old and haven't even dusted it off to use with my son. I would encourage anyone with a newborn to give a stretchy a go, I really regret not persevering with my daughter, especially as she wouldn't be put down for a second without screaming! Now she's 2 and a half I often need to be hands free to play with her too, so popping my son in the wrap is perfect. Here's a few tips for beginners:
* Ask someone experienced to show you how to use one first, be it an experienced friend or babywearing peer supporter/consultant at a sling meet. Or there's plenty of instructional videos on YouTube.
* Have your partner or friend around to help as an extra pair of hands for your first couple of attempts or stand over your bed. You won't drop your baby but you'll feel more confident if there's support around you.
* Don't be put off and give up if your baby screams when first in the wrap. This is where I went wrong! Once baby is in securely then MOVE! Walk, dance, jiggle, do anything. Remember, the womb is a busy place and babies are used to being rocked as you move. Instant sleepy dust, great for those fussy evenings.
Stretchy wraps can be used up to about 35lbs so you'll get plenty of use out of it for your investment and there's a variety of carries to try. They can be bought for around £40 new or from around £15 preloved. However, many people move on to a woven wrap or other type of sling/carrier before then for variety, extra support or a desire to wear baby on their back which isn't recommended with a stretchy due to the nature of the fabric. There's really nothing to lose and a lot to gain for both you and your baby, so why not give a stretchy wrap a try?
Wishing you hands-free fun!
*TICKS
Tight
In view
Close enough to kiss
Keep chin off the chestSupported straight back
I finally learned to use a stretchy wrap during my training as a BabyCalm teacher. I soon realised how easy it was once I'd seen someone demonstrate it, rather than trying to read an instruction book with one hand and manoeuvre a wriggly baby into a length of fabric with the other! Once I started teaching other mums it became second nature so I couldn't wait to wrap my son when I was pregnant with him.
The great thing about stretchy wraps is that you pre-tie them, meaning you tie the wrap around you first then "scootch" the baby in. No complicated holding baby in position while wrapping the fabric around them. Once the wrap is on you can simply pop baby in and out for feeds or nappy changes throughout the day, with a few minor adjustments to make sure you are following the babywearing safety guidelines known as TICKS*.
Using a stretchy wrap is second nature to me now. We haven't used the pram since my daughter was a couple of months old and haven't even dusted it off to use with my son. I would encourage anyone with a newborn to give a stretchy a go, I really regret not persevering with my daughter, especially as she wouldn't be put down for a second without screaming! Now she's 2 and a half I often need to be hands free to play with her too, so popping my son in the wrap is perfect. Here's a few tips for beginners:
* Ask someone experienced to show you how to use one first, be it an experienced friend or babywearing peer supporter/consultant at a sling meet. Or there's plenty of instructional videos on YouTube.
* Have your partner or friend around to help as an extra pair of hands for your first couple of attempts or stand over your bed. You won't drop your baby but you'll feel more confident if there's support around you.
* Don't be put off and give up if your baby screams when first in the wrap. This is where I went wrong! Once baby is in securely then MOVE! Walk, dance, jiggle, do anything. Remember, the womb is a busy place and babies are used to being rocked as you move. Instant sleepy dust, great for those fussy evenings.
Stretchy wraps can be used up to about 35lbs so you'll get plenty of use out of it for your investment and there's a variety of carries to try. They can be bought for around £40 new or from around £15 preloved. However, many people move on to a woven wrap or other type of sling/carrier before then for variety, extra support or a desire to wear baby on their back which isn't recommended with a stretchy due to the nature of the fabric. There's really nothing to lose and a lot to gain for both you and your baby, so why not give a stretchy wrap a try?
Wishing you hands-free fun!
*TICKS
Tight
In view
Close enough to kiss
Keep chin off the chestSupported straight back
Abigail's blog is currently under a revamp but she tweets as @midwifetomum
Friday, 23 May 2014
Family Photo Friday #20 - 23/05/2014
I've fallen in love with my camera again this week. We had some disagreements with focus and I was getting frustrated but I'm pleased to report that we are back on track - phew!
Happy photo-taking and memory-making!
Two photos from me this week - a rare sight to have me in front of the camera, really, but it happened twice, on different days! So, a picture of me with each of my daughters. This week I'll work on getting one of all four of us. It's not happened yet, I don't think!
My favourite post from last week was from All About a Mummy - she absolutely captured the love between her two little girls. Thanks so much for sharing!
Take a moment to recap the rules, please!
- Share a family photo from your week just gone. It needn't be a Family Photo Friday specific post, I don't mind you recycling! You can join in weekly, monthly or just whenever you can. It can be a formal portrait or a snap from your phone, something you posed for or something you caught when no one was looking. It could be from a day out, a gathering, an activity at home, it doesn't matter so long as it gives a snap shot of what your family looked like during the week that's just been.
- Give us a brief explanation of your photo.
- I'd love it if you could grab the badge to add at the bottom of your post and Tweet about it using #familyphotofriday - my Twitter handle is @oneformybaby12.
- Pop over to visit at least two other bloggers and see what they've been doing - maybe you can watch their family grow and change too!
- Leave a comment if you can.
Happy photo-taking and memory-making!
Word of the Week
I'm hesitent to go into the details of the story. But I have lost a vital key and it left me in a nightmare of a situation this week. (Two kids, hot day, no pram, no potty, no formula a long way from home etc).
Said key has still not been found.
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Sling it, Mama! #8 Guest Post: Babywearing and I
Today I'm sharing another babywearing journey, this time from my old friend Mummy Morkus. Thanks for taking the time to write this!
I came pretty late to the baby wearing game. I had brought for me a lovely woven wrap, long gorgeous colours and print. Super soft bamboo. Lush.
I tried it too early following my section. It left my scar sore and it agrivated back issues following my section. I loved it however and was very sad to find it uncomfortable. It also took me a while to get the wrapping right as this in expert tie below [image at bottom of post] shows!
We waited until L was with us before taking her and J shopping to find a carrier for him, and I, to use. And so a buckle carrier joined us.
This was fab for both J and I until L started to get bigger. We are no where near the weight limit for this bit of kit but it has reached the end of its life for us because of the pain carring a baby who is 9kg.
It was after a particularly painful journey to and from the library that I re investigated the local sling library. By this point L was nine months. And boy did I miss a trick not going sooner. Hugh boxes full of all manner of slings.
Woven, stretchy, buckle, structured, ring. Loads of choice. And some one to help you put it on, get it fitting right and to help you put baby in for the first time. Fab.
I left with a manduca sling, this is a buckle carrier which is pretty structured. It has a little snooze hood to keep sleeping baby cozy. The straps are very padded and it fits around the natural waist. L is also held in a better position wrapped around me rather than legs dangling. This made an instant and massive difference when wearing her. It distributes the weight much more evenly and makes it much more comfortable carrying a 9kg baby.
This carrier also allowed L to have her arms free so she could peep and watch the world go by. Something which is vital for my nosy baby girl!!
It transformed baby wearing for me into a go to method of taking out L on my own. Especially for journeys with the dog, to the buggy unfriendly library and children centres and most recently to and from nursery settling sessions. L sleeps well in the sling and I love the closeness of carrying her.
J has also enjoyed using this sling. The gender neutralness probably helped as other than the Bjorn J never used my woven joy.
I used my woven on and off until L was board facing me, it's still my favourite sling for snuggly newborns but I am yet to find a new wrap position in it to suit us now L is bigger. I would reccomend any new parent to investigate a woven or stretchy wrap for the first 5/6 months.
I regret not going back to wearing sooner after properly healing but it has taken me a while to trust my body and it's stength again. I will definitely be reaching for slings sooner with baby no.2 when ever that happens! I can see it being even more ideal when also running after L.
I came pretty late to the baby wearing game. I had brought for me a lovely woven wrap, long gorgeous colours and print. Super soft bamboo. Lush.
I tried it too early following my section. It left my scar sore and it agrivated back issues following my section. I loved it however and was very sad to find it uncomfortable. It also took me a while to get the wrapping right as this in expert tie below [image at bottom of post] shows!
We waited until L was with us before taking her and J shopping to find a carrier for him, and I, to use. And so a buckle carrier joined us.
This was fab for both J and I until L started to get bigger. We are no where near the weight limit for this bit of kit but it has reached the end of its life for us because of the pain carring a baby who is 9kg.
It was after a particularly painful journey to and from the library that I re investigated the local sling library. By this point L was nine months. And boy did I miss a trick not going sooner. Hugh boxes full of all manner of slings.
Woven, stretchy, buckle, structured, ring. Loads of choice. And some one to help you put it on, get it fitting right and to help you put baby in for the first time. Fab.
I left with a manduca sling, this is a buckle carrier which is pretty structured. It has a little snooze hood to keep sleeping baby cozy. The straps are very padded and it fits around the natural waist. L is also held in a better position wrapped around me rather than legs dangling. This made an instant and massive difference when wearing her. It distributes the weight much more evenly and makes it much more comfortable carrying a 9kg baby.
This carrier also allowed L to have her arms free so she could peep and watch the world go by. Something which is vital for my nosy baby girl!!
It transformed baby wearing for me into a go to method of taking out L on my own. Especially for journeys with the dog, to the buggy unfriendly library and children centres and most recently to and from nursery settling sessions. L sleeps well in the sling and I love the closeness of carrying her.
J has also enjoyed using this sling. The gender neutralness probably helped as other than the Bjorn J never used my woven joy.
I used my woven on and off until L was board facing me, it's still my favourite sling for snuggly newborns but I am yet to find a new wrap position in it to suit us now L is bigger. I would reccomend any new parent to investigate a woven or stretchy wrap for the first 5/6 months.
I regret not going back to wearing sooner after properly healing but it has taken me a while to trust my body and it's stength again. I will definitely be reaching for slings sooner with baby no.2 when ever that happens! I can see it being even more ideal when also running after L.
Mummy Morkus blogs at The Life and Times of Mummy Morkus and tweets as @mummymorkus - please do pop by and share the love!
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
B is for...
There are lots of B's in this picture.
Today, B is for bokeh.
Linking up with PODcast and the #alphabetphoto linky
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Sling it, Mama! #7 Guest Post: Ring slings
Lovely Ali is joining us today from the other side of the pond to share her insights into the ring sling - thanks Ali!
I am mother to a 16 month old Myra and a Volunteer Babywearing Educator (VBE) with the South Metro Minneapolis chapter of Babywearing International. Our babywearing journey started when she was just days old. In those early days, we used a stretchy wrap, a soft structured carrier (SSC), and, most often, a Baby K'Tan. I loved the K'Tan because it was quick, simple, and folded up nice and small. As Myra got heavier, we hung onto the SSCs and started exploring woven wraps. I started getting involved with a nearby babywearing group a year ago and tried some Mei Tais from the lending library. I was so determined to get the hang of woven wraps and loved my SSC so much, I never really gave ring slings a chance until Myra was about nine months old.
When I finally gave ring slings a try, Myra was mobile and curious. Similar to the K'Tan I had loved so much, the ring sling was simple and small. I can get Myra in or out of it very quickly, which seems to be important at any stage of babywearing. Newborns need to eat and be changed frequently (I will add, nursing in a ring sling is totally do-able!), crawlers want to get down and explore often, and toddlers just can't make up their minds (up, down, up, down, up). It took me a while to figure out exactly what positioning is most comfortable for us, but now it's a very quick process. With a ring sling, little ones can be worn in front (tummy to tummy), hip, cradle, or even in a back carry. I am not comfortable with a back carry in a ring sling for very long, but it's a great option when I am paying for groceries and need to get Myra's little "helpful" hands out of my way for a minute. I keep a ring sling in each of our vehicles and that is what I primarily use when running errands. I can put her in the sling very quickly, bring groceries into the house, then get her down so she can play. I like that it doesn't take longer to get her into the sling than it does to bring in the groceries. I love using the sling in situations where I wish I just had an extra arm, if only for a few minutes (think weddings, buffet line, shopping, loading the car, airports, assisting another child, etc.)
Another perk of ring slings is the price range. One could get a ring sling for $20, or spend hundreds. I have many friends who have made their own from a piece of linen or even a jacquard weave tablecloth. On the other hand, I have other friends who own professionally made ring slings from hand woven wraps. There are also no-sew versions that just require a short wrap or piece of fabric and the rings. The options are endless!
Although it took me 9 months to find ring sling love, I think it's here to stay. I still have a variety of carriers and love them all for different situations, but ring slings have definitely been my carrier of choice lately. I look forward to using a ring sling with a newborn when another baby joins our family...someday!
When I finally gave ring slings a try, Myra was mobile and curious. Similar to the K'Tan I had loved so much, the ring sling was simple and small. I can get Myra in or out of it very quickly, which seems to be important at any stage of babywearing. Newborns need to eat and be changed frequently (I will add, nursing in a ring sling is totally do-able!), crawlers want to get down and explore often, and toddlers just can't make up their minds (up, down, up, down, up). It took me a while to figure out exactly what positioning is most comfortable for us, but now it's a very quick process. With a ring sling, little ones can be worn in front (tummy to tummy), hip, cradle, or even in a back carry. I am not comfortable with a back carry in a ring sling for very long, but it's a great option when I am paying for groceries and need to get Myra's little "helpful" hands out of my way for a minute. I keep a ring sling in each of our vehicles and that is what I primarily use when running errands. I can put her in the sling very quickly, bring groceries into the house, then get her down so she can play. I like that it doesn't take longer to get her into the sling than it does to bring in the groceries. I love using the sling in situations where I wish I just had an extra arm, if only for a few minutes (think weddings, buffet line, shopping, loading the car, airports, assisting another child, etc.)
Another perk of ring slings is the price range. One could get a ring sling for $20, or spend hundreds. I have many friends who have made their own from a piece of linen or even a jacquard weave tablecloth. On the other hand, I have other friends who own professionally made ring slings from hand woven wraps. There are also no-sew versions that just require a short wrap or piece of fabric and the rings. The options are endless!
Although it took me 9 months to find ring sling love, I think it's here to stay. I still have a variety of carriers and love them all for different situations, but ring slings have definitely been my carrier of choice lately. I look forward to using a ring sling with a newborn when another baby joins our family...someday!
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Friday, 16 May 2014
Family Photo Friday #18 & #19 - 09/05/14 & 16/05/14
I cannot tell you how profusely sorry I am that last week's linky didn't happen; I can't even begin to tell the tale but the good news is is that it's sorted and we're back to firing on all cylinders, so this week I invite you to link up two family photo posts for the last two weeks, if you feel so inclined.
Meanwhile, I'm pleased to report that getting my girls to be in one photograph is like a walk in the park...
Let's play.
Share a family photo from your week just gone. It needn't be a Family Photo Friday specific post, I don't mind you recycling! You can join in weekly, monthly or just whenever you can. It can be a formal portrait or a snap from your phone, something you posed for or something you caught when no one was looking. It could be from a day out, a gathering, an activity at home, it doesn't matter so long as it gives a snap shot of what your family looked like during the week that's just been.
Give us a brief explanation of your photo.
I'd love it if you could grab the badge to add at the bottom of your post and Tweet about it using #familyphotofriday - my Twitter handle is @oneformybaby12.
Pop over to visit at least two other bloggers and see what they've been doing - maybe you can watch their family grow and change too!
Leave a comment if you can.
Happy photo-taking and memory-making!
Meanwhile, I'm pleased to report that getting my girls to be in one photograph is like a walk in the park...
Let's play.
I promise to visit as many of you as I can and I'll pick my favourite photo to share next Friday.
Word of the Week
Concentrating on what maternity leave is all about.
Getting the blogging mojo back.
A baby who loves to grin from ear to ear.
Catching up on sleep.
Sunshine, and opportunities to play in it with friends.
Just a small selection of reasons as to why my word of the week is...
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Sling it, Mama! #6 Guest Post: Reminiscing about babies worn
Today's guest post made me proper belly laugh and get a smidge teary all in one read. Cheryl's reflecting on her time as a baby wearer now that her brood are all too big to be worn. Thanks for taking the time to dig out your old pictures, Cheryl!
Hi. I'm Cheryl and I'm excited to be here talking about baby wearing. I started my baby
wearing journey about 12 years ago, which should explain why my photos look
old. Most are pre-digital camera. I carried all three of my babies, just not at
the same time.
Before my eldest was born, I researched the best
carriers. I'm not sure we had baby sling libraries then, but I wish we had. I
tried out a few slings before I found the one that worked for me.
I knew from the start that I wanted to carry my
baby. I hated prams. Admittedly, my only real encounter with prams was other
people's whilst out shopping. I could see what a hassle it was getting them in
and out of shops. Easy access regulations were just a twinkle in the bureaucrat’s
eye at that stage.
Of course, we did buy a pram. One of those first
time parents' mistakes. It lived up to everything that I thought it would be.
Big, awkward and developed flat tyres the first time it went down our country
lane. (Tyre being mended for the 100th time, above) It refused to
collapse, which was fun in the car.
When eldest was on her way, I was lucky to receive
a few hand me down baby carriers.
- One I can only describe as a cage that went on my back. I couldn't
walk.
- One I nicknamed as an octopus due to the number of straps that were
meant to wrap round me. No instructions, so I gave up.
- One was an over one shoulder type. Again no instructions and my
attempts to wear it were uncomfortable. I abandoned it.
I didn't know anyone who wore their baby. So no
advice.
Eventually I bought a front carrying buckle type.
Like a Baby Bjorn. It worked perfectly until her legs grew too long for me to
walk comfortably. Even my husband was happy to use it. I loved being able to
chat to her as I walked. I would wear it round the house, if she was restless.
Roll on two years. Next baby. This time I had more
success researching online. I found a sling that suited me. And it came with
instructions. Not only that, but I could buy a matching dolly sling for my
eldest too. She loved it. I am glad to say that her little sister stayed in her
sling better than some of the teddies in her big sister's version, but she
loved being like me.
This sling (mine, not the dolly sling) is the one I
stuck with through to the point that the next baby, my son, no longer needed it.
I must have walked 100s of miles wearing it. Whether it was dog walking, holiday
outings or shopping, I carried my babies.
Waiting in the playground, I was a rarity. People
were curious about the sling and tended to ask the same questions:
1. Does it
hurt your back? No. Muscles build up as the baby grows to toddler, so it’s
not a sudden big weight. Wearing it every day, helps with this one.
2. Aren't you
afraid he/she will fall out? No. Never was a problem. Baby is held so close
and I'm conscious of them that it felt safer than having them in a pram.
3. Can they
sleep when you are walking? Erm, yes. The rhythm rocks them asleep. It’s
handy for feeding too.
4. Don’t they
pull your hair? Yes. Why do you think I spent my baby wearing years with my
hair scraped back?
I still have it. Not sure why. Probably because it
brings back lovely memories. It was so flexible and comfortable. I loved having
my babies close. It doesn't suit everyone, but it suited us.
My days of baby wearing are over. Youngest is 6
years old and can walk miles. I can't help smiling when I encounter other people
wearing their babies. I can't imagine another way.
Cheryl blogs at Time To Craft and Tweets as @cherylintheuk - please pop by and show her some love!
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
A is for...
A new jigsaw in our collection that is already stressing me out when letters go missing.
A is for alphabet.
Linking up with #alphabetphoto via PODcast
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Sling it, Mama! #5 Guest Post: Ocha Wrap conversion
We're storming through slings like they're going out of fashion, and I'm thrilled that Charlotte has shared her babywearing journey which finally led her to a conversion wrap - thanks so much, Charlotte.
I love babywearing.
Like really, really love it. Slings are fantastic and totally underrated in the
modern world of parenting. There have been so many times in my brief few years
of being a mother where having a sling has literally saved the day for me - try
trying to fit on a packed city bus, wander around a festival or go hiking with
a pram, not so fun!
When you first get into babywearing it can
be a bit like an addiction. We went through many slings until we found 'the
one'. Mei Tais, stretchy wraps, woven wraps, ring slings... and they don't come
cheap. Parenting forums are a great way to get cheaper slings and buying them
preloved means they are already 'broken in' i.e. soft and squishy and flexible.
Trying out loads of different slings is
great - everyone has their own style, some slings may be more comfortable than
others for different people - and babies often have a preference too! If you
don't have the moolah there are sling libraries or meetups where you can try a
variety and see which suits you best.
After buying and reselling a lot of slings
we finally found 'the one'. The sling that I still have folded away in a
cupboard because I can't bare to part with it even though my babies have
outgrown it! I found it on a preloved sling forum, I saw the picture and was
instantly smitten. I fought internally with myself for a while 'I don't need
another sling! But I love it!'. And I did it. I bought it.
When it arrived we were so excited to try
it out, and the moment I put Joshua my baby boy in it, he snuggled up to me and
dozed off. Just like that. And that's when I knew it was 'the one'. A hybrid
wrap conversion by Ocha made from the beautiful Didymos Agave wrap, with owl
fabric and appliqued owls on the sleepy hood. We always got comments about this
sling no matter where we were - shopping in town, at festivals... and Joshua
loved it. He loved sleeping in it, watching the world go by, he'd always be
smiling and giggling.
So yeah, our favourite sling is now tucked
away ready to be put to use in the future ;) or passed down to my children for
when I have grandbabies, whichever way life decides to take us. I
wholeheartedly recommend any parent to try babywearing and if you think it's
not for you, you probably haven't found 'the one' yet!
Sunday, 11 May 2014
Two months
My sweet little girl.
In my head you were born last week. You in fact are 10 weeks old. 70 days.
I had forgotten so much of what the early days brought; Your 'new' cry, and your jerky movements and your ability to fall asleep in the most uncomfortable of positions. And I don't want the early days to end...
And then suddenly, you are on the move. Off the play mat, pushing off with your feet and across the sitting room. Scooting up the crib and getting stuck in a corner. Pushing up and proving to me that you do in fact have that funny little step reflex after all. You love sitting up and Effy "rowing" with you is such great fun.
It took us time, but we finally got to the bottom of your sickiness and your ghastly burps. It transpires you're super windy and super greedy, but a step back to reassess your bottles, your milk and your eating habits has made this so much easier and I can predict you almost as well as I could your sister now.
You're getting to the point where your toes want to burst out of 0-3 month clothes and I've sold those beautifully new born nappies. Your eye lashes are growing faster than the rest of you, although apparently your head is also huge. It doesn't look it. You smile for everyone who will look at you and you're getting the hang on chatting. I suspect chuckles aren't far away. You still hate the car seat, but you'll sleep for hours in the sling.
Your big sister is by far your favourite and your eyes follow her around the room. You're incredibly tolerant of her slightly over zealous but well meant gestures and you seem to have taken well to the role of little sister just fine.
Two months. You just get better and better.
In my head you were born last week. You in fact are 10 weeks old. 70 days.
I had forgotten so much of what the early days brought; Your 'new' cry, and your jerky movements and your ability to fall asleep in the most uncomfortable of positions. And I don't want the early days to end...
And then suddenly, you are on the move. Off the play mat, pushing off with your feet and across the sitting room. Scooting up the crib and getting stuck in a corner. Pushing up and proving to me that you do in fact have that funny little step reflex after all. You love sitting up and Effy "rowing" with you is such great fun.
It took us time, but we finally got to the bottom of your sickiness and your ghastly burps. It transpires you're super windy and super greedy, but a step back to reassess your bottles, your milk and your eating habits has made this so much easier and I can predict you almost as well as I could your sister now.
You're getting to the point where your toes want to burst out of 0-3 month clothes and I've sold those beautifully new born nappies. Your eye lashes are growing faster than the rest of you, although apparently your head is also huge. It doesn't look it. You smile for everyone who will look at you and you're getting the hang on chatting. I suspect chuckles aren't far away. You still hate the car seat, but you'll sleep for hours in the sling.
Your big sister is by far your favourite and your eyes follow her around the room. You're incredibly tolerant of her slightly over zealous but well meant gestures and you seem to have taken well to the role of little sister just fine.
Two months. You just get better and better.
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