Babywearing - addictive necessity

it all starts with a gift from a good friend...

then you buy something...maybe you like it, maybe not

you try something else and fall in love

then you branch out again and find something extra special

when baby loves it as much as you do, it becomes an obsession

you start looking for other ways to carry baby

you start truly enjoying your collection

you find something you just can't live without

and you fall in love forever when your baby falls asleep on your back

it's so much fun daddy even gets in on the act!

you try a few more things, but go back to your original loves

you start making carriers for friends to share the love



and you get excited when new fluff arrives in your mailbox!

 Okay, so some of you are following my journey through babywearing and recognizing each step because you've been there. I know there are others who think I must have gone completely batty! Don't worry, I'm just fine. There are a few of these carriers that have moved on to new homes, others that have been repurposed, and my favorites which remain. There are even a couple that are missing (gasp!).

My Baby has to Grow Up

Here is my info I got from daycare today for Isabella's next classroom. It starts with some intro stuff and then says:

First, as much as I love my bottles, I only use sippy cups in Room 4. I know it's hard, but could you please give me sippy cups with my meals at home?

Second, bare feet are great, but the rule in Room 4 is that I have to wear shoes. This is gonna be hard for me and I will try my best to keep those silly things on my feet!

Third, I will lay down for my only nap around Noon in Room 4, which means no more morning naps for me! Maybe this weekend we could try that out at home!

And last but not least, I eat big kid food in Room 4! My teachers will start giving me this food soon, so maybe you could stop by the front lobby and check out the menu! I would love to try some of the food you guys eat at home, too! And don't forget, my first meal in Room 4 is a snack at 9:45 am, so I'll need to eat my breakfast at home.
Will my baby be ready for all these big changes? I hope so!

Shopping and Babywearing

I don't know how other parents go shopping without babywearing. Tonight Isabella didn't want to be put down for any reason (not even in the shopping cart). So, up in the wrap she went, and we successfully went shopping for a half hour in Target.

And in other news, Isabella is working on her 7th tooth!

Giving Thanks (at all times)

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful for family, friends, health, etc. There are just days when I think, "What have I gotten myself into?" Being busy, busy, busy really threatens my sanity sometimes and I have to remember that I just have to take it one day at a time.
Today I'm just praying that God will help me give thanks even when my feelings don't reflect that attitude.

A Little Background

Luke and I were married December 31, 2005. It was a beautiful day filled with loved ones and friends. I wouldn't have changed a thing. To make that day even more special, December 31, 2009 was my due date with our daughter Isabella.

Birth Story follows:

Anyone who knows me well will tell you I hate being late. To that end my water broke at 4:30 pm on December 31, my due date. I didn't have any contractions at that point, but we grabbed our things and started for the hospital. Much to my dismay, six hours passed and still no contractions. So I got an IV of pitocin. A few hours later I gave in and got an epidural. Little did I know that I had already started getting an infection (within 12 hours of my water breaking). I was diagnosed with chorioamnionitis and started on antibiotics. Isabella needed to be delivered quickly, and I was finally dilated to 10 cm. However, she wouldn't cooperate, so I was wheeled down the hallway to an operating room and given a c-section. My fever was over 102 degrees by 8:10 am when Isabella entered the world. Thankfully Isabella was delivered in time and suffered no ill effects. And after 24 hours on multiple IV antibiotics I was fine.

Since that day, January 1, 2010, my life has changed completely! I love being a mom, and I adore my little girl more than I ever thought possible.