SortaCrunchy

Forward with Gratitude

Ever-inspired by the gratitude for all gifts - great and small - that flows freely at Holy Experience, I must add more to my list:

8. late morning picnic in the shade of our front porch, pink and white striped beach towel spread across the cool concrete, juice and pretzels and raisins for the feasting while butterflies pursue one another amidst the late spring blooms

9. stepping out the front door, garbage bag in hand, stopped in my tracks on the way to the dumpster by a deer stopped in her tracks in the front yard.  simple, quiet, sleek elegance, and in a flash she is gone

10.  Patty Griffin's "Mary"

11.  the emergence of Daddy's Girl.  All day long, it's I can't wait to tell Daddy about . . . and the moment he walks through the door, she all but forgets the one who grew her to fruition.  After three years of intense attachment, I could not be more grateful, or more delighted.

12. opening a package that bursts with music, hand-picked and thoughtfully selected just for me by a dear friend who has known me long enough to know me, and loves me anyway.  also in the package - a book which speaks to my heart and affirms this gratitude journey.  thank you again, sweet friend.

13. Ma-ma.

14.  Camera and lens repair shops. 

15. this promise:  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  (James 1:5, NIV)  Oh thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord God, for your abundant, generous, vast, perfect wisdom.

More to come.

AJ at Eight Months

My dearest, darling Aliza Joy,

You know what?  I never got your seven months letter written.  You're probably okay with that, because that's the kind of kid you are turning out to be.  Just happy to be.  We spent the better part of the last month battling a dreadful little virus that did not want to turn loose of its grip on you, but I do believe we are on the upswing.

Oh, child!  So much to say about you at this age.   I love these months, this Golden Stage of Babyhood.  Everything brings you such delight.  You love to laugh and learn and look; everything is a wonder to behold with those big, beautiful eyes of yours.

Here's a rundown of what life looks like with you right now:

* You are now mobile!  You've been doing a lot of creative movement and would inch and scootch and roll where you wanted to go for weeks now, but last week you really took off with actual crawling.  Still working out some of the kinks, but if you get your eyes set on something you really want (usually something Dacey really does not want you to have), you can get to it lickety split.

* You've been pushing up to sitting from laying down for a few weeks now, and I think you do it in your sleep.  Then you wake up sitting up in  your crib and get quite mad over the not being able to lay back down. You'll get there!  Just be patient.

* You love to entertain and be entertained.  The people who have the fortune of sitting behind y0u in Mommy and Daddy's Sunday school  class or at church or in restaurants or wherever you are tagging along find themselves distracted by your insistence that everyone pay attention to you.  Yep, a little Middle Child Syndrome, even though we haven't added a younger sibling for you to compete with yet.

* You love your sister and your evening bath with her never fails to bring you joy.  I can't take my hands off of you for one second in there as you are constantly trying to scale the bathtub walls.  In fact, you are constantly on the lookout for any dangerous or scary thing you can do to make Mommy's heart stop.  No fear. 

* You are resolute in your decision that baby food is for babies and from now on, it's table food only for you, the Big Girl.  Your approach to food scares me a little as it is the picture of reckless abandon.  Again, no fear. 

Here you are in all your loveliness:

Definitely one of my favorite ages.  Can't wait to see what the next weeks and months will bring.

Love you, sweet girl.

Kisses,

Mama

Week in Review

It's as though I just barely had a chance to breathe in April, and now here we are at the end of it and I don't feel quite ready for May. 

I sometimes feel as if all I do here these days is post pictures and share link love.  Ya'll, this is so unbearably trite but so exceedingly true - there just aren't enough hours in the day for me to do all that I want to.  So I focus on what I need to, and carve out time for the rest when I can.

Anyway, can you handle a few more links?  A few more pictures?

Two women I admire and respect are each about to launch separate but equally exciting new ventures and I want to make you aware of them:

Lis Garrett, of both woolgatherings and Lis Garrett: Silver Tongued Writer, is launching a new online web site called Root and Sprout.  Get a little preview of the sort of content Root and Sprout will offer here to find out why I am so looking forward to her launch.  I know some of you are amazing writers - this may be just the opportunity you have been looking for!  She also has information available if you are interested in advertising at Root and Sprout.

Another writer I absolutely adore is Megan of Velveteen Mind.  (She had me at Victor Vito.)  I am quite excited about her upcoming roll-out of Blog Nosh Magazine.  (Nosh.  Delish.)  Even though my feedreader and blogroll and email subscriptions are already way more than I can ever manage, I still love to discover new-to-me writers who are putting great content out there.  (She's looking for posts and channel editors - think you might be interested?)

One post I came across this week has spoken to me deeply and I keep rolling it around in my mind, like a mental wine tasting, breathing it in and savoring the top-notes and nuances in each sip:  Ann Voskamp's Breathe.

I don't usually read keeping awake, but Karla shared this in her reader this week, and I am so thankful - if you have a minute, go check out Boothe's thoughts on the question, "What if better doesn't come?"

AND ohmygosh I almost forgot this one!  I have to tell you about one of my new favorite blogs - Small Notebook.  They don't come much cooler than Rachel.  To begin with, she's a Texas mama (with tops out the cool meter right off the bat), and not only that, she's all about living green in the city - complete with compost bin, herb garden, and clothesline.  She buys gently used clothes for her darling daughter and I just adore how her blog is a collection of amazing photography, sweet ink drawings, and helpful, practical insights.  Go see her.  Enjoy.

OKAY.  I feel so much lighter.  Thanks for indulging me.

SO.

I think about five or six of you commited to mentioned you'd be up for sharing some poetry on Wednesday in honor of the (now almost over) National Poetry Month.  If I can figure it out, I'll do a Mr. Linky.  Let's have a good old-fashioned-hippie-beatnik poetry read!  Roll out your original verses or share your favorite lines from your favorite poets.  I can't wait!

Wait!  Before you go. I have pictures.

D celebrated Earth Day by glorying in both nature and pink.  Because pink's awfully earthy, right?

(these were shot through the window screen as I was trying to catch her unaware)

(which lasted about as long as one camera click)

(and then the silliness started)

(and the posing)

And can you believe AJ started with the finger foods this week? 

And finally, as you know and I am sure you are sick of hearing about, I haven't slept a whole lot in the past week.  And so here's my mothering tip of the week - when you are smooth-runnin' exhausted but your preschooler is abounding with energy, I can't think of a much more relaxing, mama-doesn't-have-to-move-or-even-get-out-of-her-chair activity than letting little one loose with the face paints.

Behold.

I so wanted to photoshop those dark circles away.  But that wouldn't have been very truthy of me, right?

WEDNESDAY.  POETRY.  BE HERE.

API Speaks!

(Yes, it's nearly one in the morning and I really am up this late blogging.  Short story made long - AJ is still sick, and now has a croup-y cough (not real croup, mind you, just a croup-y cough) (can you do parentheses inside parentheses?  Anyone know?  I guess I just did.) ), and she also has a nervous mama who doesn't like the sound of all that wheezing and would rather just sit up and doze with her all night than toss and turn and worry in bed until morning.)

This more-than-normal amount of time being invested in some intense nighttime parenting reminded me that I've let nearly a week go by without mentioning the exciting news that Attachment Parenting International has introduced a new blog: API Speaks! 

How awesome is this?  I've had the gorgeous opportunity to meet so many wonderful AP mamas through online connections.  I look forward to hearing from more of them at API Speaks.  In fact, I already have a couple of favorite articles:

* Remember our recent discussion on wearing the new baby?  Check this out - Dr. Maria Blois will be writing feature articles twice a month at API Speaks and her first article is on wearing a newborn.

AND

* I am loving Scylla's article Spare the Crib, Spoil Thyself as it speaks to exactly why I am an AP mama!   

Think you might like to contribute to the AP community by telling your story at API Speaks?  I do believe they are open to submissions right now and you can find their guidelines here.

Do you have a favorite AP resource (either online or off) that has encouraged you in your parenting journey?  I would love to hear about it! 

Work, Interrupted

Inside

Washer swishes, dryer swirls, dishwasher moans and groans.

Television pouts (protesting its sudden silencing) while the computer idles (unsure of what to do).

Outside

Birds flirt, sunshine beckons, shade invites

Mama snaps and snaps and snaps

A baby in a basket and a big girl in a box

play and play and play

(Inspired by Missy's Bless My Interruptions devotional at Christian Women Online)

Inspiration, revisited

When I wrote about Sara and Walk Slowly, Live Wildly on Tuesday, I had no idea that the Lord was about to send me a magnificent dose of inspiration in the form of my sweet friend Melissa the very next day.  (You remember Melissa, right?  She of the amazing voice and profound lyrics . . .)

Melissa and I had been planning to get together for coffee and talk (both small and big) for, gosh, months?  Since before Christmas.  We live in the same town!  How hard can it be?  You know how it is, though.  Sick days, hard weeks, things come up, stuff goes down, plans are rearranged.  In a way that only He can do, God orchestrated both of our schedules yesterday so that we were finally able to connect.

Now, Melissa is not going to be one hundred percent in love with me sharing this part (she's one of those who gives quietly, shunning applause), but I must tell you that she came bearing gifts:

Look at all that organic, natural-living, good-for-you-and-the-babies goodness!!  Blessed. My. Heart.

But far more importantly, she brought with her a conversation in mind that I know without a doubt was from the Lord.  We talked about art and life and spirituality and she shared with me some of what she learned from Madeline L'Engle's Walking on Water.  I can't possibly retell all we discussed, but as we talked I knew precisely why the Lord sent her yesterday.

Well over a year ago (like late fall of 2006), I began to feel a burden to start a writing project.  My friend and mind twin Laura and I talked through some of it and we decided to try to tackle this topic together.  It's something we both feel strongly about and we were excited to get started on it.  Then within a few months, both of us got pregnant and welcomed our second children to our families.  As you can imagine, plans were rearranged.

This burden in my heart has been weighing every more heavily in the past few months, and as Melissa and I talked, God started whispering to me, "Seriously.  What are you waiting for?"  Yesterday, He helped me to know that the time is now.  And a quick phone call to Laura confirmed that she, too, is ready to take this up again.

Exciting, scary, overwhelming . . .

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Speaking of inspiration . . . the girls' Aunt Emily says there are never enough AJ pictures.  (Those second-borns gotta look out for each other!)  So for Aunt "MiMi" and anyone else who enjoys some almost-seven-months-old baby girl love . . .

She loves to play . . .

. . . she's got some cheeks . . .

. . . she's kind of smiley . . .

. . . those eyes . . .

. . . and pretty much is enthralled by Big Sister.

SortaCrunchy Recommends: Wearing the new baby (and beyond)

I'm feeling babywearing vibes from all over today!

First of all, I saw this post at Adventures in Babywearing wherein Stephanie has created a fab babywearing bloggers blogroll.  Next, I got an email from the wonderful company that started me out in wearing Baby Dacey - Lucky Baby.  (Who wants 10% off a new Lucky Baby sling?  Enter code LUCKY17 at checkout and voila!  10% off your next purchase today through March!)  Thirdly, my sister was telling me about her friend whose three week old son cries and cries unless she is holding him.  Oh my yes, do I know what that is like.  I told my sister her friend needs to get herself  sling!

All of this serves as motivation for me to finally publish a post I've been meaning to get written since my friend Megan (FriedOkra) asked me for my recommendations a while back.  A long while back.  Sorry, Megan!

Megan's question:
I need your ponderous, careful input about slings vs. wraps for newborns. What have you used and why? CAN one really get the right sling/wrap and learn how to NURSE baby in one? Ever?

I don't know about ponderous or careful, but I am always more than happy to share my experiences!  I wrote a bit about my general babywearing recommendations back in November, but wearing the newborn is an art in and of itself.

I didn't know about babywearing (beyond the Snugli) until D was about five or six months old, so I don't have a ton of newborn babywearing experience.  I have been wearing AJ since she was born, and I will be happy to share what worked for us in the earliest days and weeks - a ring sling.  My personal favorite is my Chicken Scratch ring sling, but there are a ton of wonderfully made and gorgeous unpadded ring slings on the market.

I like ring slings because they are infinitely adjustable and versatile.  I wore AJ in the tummy-to-tummy hold when she was a newborn and switched to the hip carry when she was six or eight weeks old.  A ring sling should last you on into toddlerhood, making it a great buy if you can only afford to have one carrier in your stash.

As far as nursing a baby in a sling?  Well, I've never been able to, but I also have oversupply issues combined with overactive letdown in the first six weeks of breastfeeding.  I have heard tell of plenty of mamas who have been able to nurse their babies while wearing them.  I'm just not one of them.  I would bet perusing the archives at TheBabyWearer forums would be helpful to anyone wanting to get tips on how to do this.  Also, I bet the mamas at your local La Leche League or Attachment Parenting International meetings would be able to give hands-on help.

Megan asked what I have used, so that's my recommendation based on actual experience.  There are many, many women who love a lightweight wrap for newborns.  The Moby is a particularly popular choice.  I've never worn a wrap, mostly because all the fabric is a little intimidating to me.  Wrap fans tend to really, really love their wraps, so there's got to be something to that.  Honestly, if I didn't already have a mei tai, I would have probably preferred a wrap.  My mei tai allows me to be totally hands-free, and I would imagine a wrap is the same way.  I think it is particularly important to have something you feel good about needing to do very few adjustments with your carrier if you have more than one child in your care.  The only drawback to a lightweight wrap is eventually baby will be too heavy to wear in it, so you'll have to choose a new carrier.  (and when I say lightweight, I am not thinking of the super gorgeous, heavy duty, woven wraps like Storchs and Didys!)

If you are able to get more than one carrier, I cannot tell you enough how much I love our Ergo.  Unfortunately, I hear rumblings that Ergo's business practices have not been so great lately (particularly to work-at-home parent businesses), so my glowing review of the Ergo is a little hesitant now, but I seriously could not survive these days without ours.  AJ spends a lot of time riding on my back in it around the house.  It makes my life so. much. easier.  There are lots of soft-structured carriers (also known in some places as buckle carriers) on the market today.  Here's a sampling at Attached to Baby: Buckle Baby Carriers.  (Personally, I am drooling over the Beco Butterfly!)  A buckle carrier is definitely a carrier that will take you far past infancy, so if you have some extra money in the budget or a doting grandma-to-be who wants to indulge you, I highly recommend one of these type carriers.

I'd love to hear from ya'll!  What was your favorite baby carrier for the newborn stage?  Did you find it was a good carrier for beyond infancy?  I'm always looking to increase my babywearing knowledge.  Please share!

Six months letter to AJ

Oh my dear, sweet Joyful Joy,

How can it be that six months ago today, at this very moment, we were welcoming you into this world?  Six months?  I can hardly believe even six weeks have passed . . . let alone half of a year. 

For all my good intentions, this is the first time I've actually made time to sit down and write to you to celebrate the passing of another month.  I'm sorry for that, and I hope that you'll forgive me. 

You continue to amaze and delight Daddy and I with your sweet, peaceful, happy, laid-back personality.  It's unbearably easy to get you to smile, and Daddy and I find it irresistible to make fools out of ourselves to keep that little baby grin on your face.  You've been sick with your first ear infection for the past week, and it's been awful to see such a happy baby be so miserable with discomfort. 

In the past few weeks, you have mastered the art of sitting up on your own and are now completely over being laid on your back to play on the floor.  If you happen to fall out of the sitting position, you flip yourself on your tummy as quickly as possible.  As I watch you playing on your tummy, I can see in your eyes and the way you are working your muscles that it's not going to be too terribly long before you just take off.

You absolutely adore and idolize your big sister.  Dacey can make you grin and laugh through no exertion of effort other than just being in the room.  Your favorite is watching her jump on the bed.  That gives you the biggest case of the baby giggles, and that makes Dacey laugh, too.  Oh, be careful, my sweet one.  That Dacey is bossy and I'm already a little fearful of the plans she has in store for her devoted tag-along.  But Big Sister is becoming increasingly interested and involved with you now, too, and that makes me happy.  When you start fussing, she is quick to tell me, "I think she needs mama milk, Mommy!"  She loves to watch you eat your cereal and likes to help Mama give you a bath each evening. 

Everyone, from friends to strangers at the grocery store, comment on your bright eyes and engaging smile.  You seem constantly amazed with and impressed by each person and place you experience.  I wonder what you are thinking inside that sweet head of yours.  I bet it will just be a  matter of time before you're telling us your thoughts, and I can't wait to hear.

Here are some snapshots of you at six months:

And, of course, some of Sister (so no one gets jealous!):

Mommy and Daddy love you girls so much, Aliza.  It's a little bittersweet for me today as I know the changes the next six months will bring.  But it's a fun time - the best part of babyhood in my opinion.  You're awake now and definitely needing some mama milk, so this is all I have time for.  I love you.  Happy six months!

Love,
Mommy

Short Order

Order up!

I got a

Sick Big Sister Special (high fever and cruddy cough with a side of listless)

Delux Teething Little Sister (cranky, needy, and clingy with a side of not sleeping)

and an

Exhausted Mama Supreme (punchy, strained, worried, worn out) (and, oh yeah, exhausted)

Gonna hafta eighty-six the blogging while we find our way outta the weeds.

Back soon.

Little Sister says

Hi. I'm Aliza Joy. I'm big.

As you can see.

My mom's hands are awfully busy today. She's been visiting each one of the Big Bloggy Move participants and is so excited that so many bloggers played along! Also, one of Daddy's friends is in town and has been staying with us, so that makes Mommy feel the need to keep things picked up constantly. That takes a lot of time for Mommy but I like it because I get to ride on Mommy's back in the Ergo.

Anyway, Mommy wanted you to read this article if you have a chance because she says it's extremely fascinating: Breast milk contains stem cells

Mommy says she'll try to be back to posting real content later this week.