My Fabulous Birthday Presents!

These are actual presents that I got for my birthday, not poop!

The King knows that I love to go to the zoo. So he got me a membership to the zoo! Fabulous! I think the Princess will enjoy the zoo this summer too! I can't wait to go!

He also got me flowers! Isn't he a nice Hubby? I love him lots!

Here I am sporting another Fabulous gift curtesy of my dad and stepmom. My new Kangaroo Korner sling. I love it! The Princess loves it! We are babywearing in style! (FYI, the spots are from where I spilled water on myself. I'm not too graceful! Also, it is very difficult to take a flattering picture of yourself!) Dad and Reese also got me a gift card to DSW. Yay! Shoes for me. And Reese sent me some bedding. I'm thinking a bedroom makeover is in our future!

My MIL, Kari, spoiled me when she was here last weekend. She bought portraits of the Princess and then loaded me up with frames from IKEA so that I can decorate my home with my baby! Fabulous!

I got some other things from others as well. I am extremely blessed! Thank you Thank you! I love being spoiled on this one day (stretched out usually) every year. Happy Birthday to me!!!!

Who's Weird?

I go to Library Babies (I'm not sure that's what it's really called, but that's what I call it) every week with the Princess. We both love going. Two librarians switch off, every other week. One is pretty good. And the other is AWESOME! We sing songs, do finger plays, read books, and watch the librarians with puppets. I really think the Princess likes watching the other kids. And I like talking to the other moms.

The first week we went (about a month ago), I sat down beside a nice looking lady and her baby girl. I figured the baby was closest to the Princess in age, most of the other kids were toddlers. The mom and I exchanged casual hellos and went on to sing and play with our babies. Then the mom got up to change her baby's diaper. And she pulled out of her diaper bag...CLOTH DIAPERS!! I was shocked. Even though I have a few new friends who cloth diaper, I have never seen anyone out and about who uses cloth. I got really excited and started talking to this mom about it.

Then two weeks later, I walked into the conference room at the library with the Princess in a sling, like usual. A lady playing with her toddler daughter looked up at me and said rather shocked, you're wearing your baby! It was kind of a question, but mostly a shocked statement. She went on to say that she had never seen anyone else wearing their baby out and about. I commented that I had not either. I get stopped a lot and asked about it, but I never see anyone else wearing a baby. This lady and I ended up talking about being AP parents and babywearing. It was fun to see someone in my community having similar parenting styles that I have.

I tell you these library stories to share another story that happened at the Pediatrician's office. Now, this is not a place that I enjoy going. These people are supposed to know what they are talking about, and every time I go there, I have to remind myself that they see the Princess for 15 minutes every couple of months. I am the Princess's momma, and I live with her. While they know a lot medically, they may not be the best people to tell me how to raise my baby.

At our last visit, I was led into the office and told to undress the Princess to her diaper. I knew they were going to weigh her, so I checked to see if her diaper was wet. It was, so I proceeded to change her. I had a wipe out, and was getting ready to spray it, when the nurse walked in. She looked at me quizzically and said, that's different! Very sarcastically.

Well I don't have to tell you that I am getting very annoyed with being called weird and looked at like I have a third eye because of my parenting choices. So I decided to turn the tables. I looked at her like she had a third eye and said (a bit too sarcastically, I realized later), it's a cloth diaper! It wasn't really all that bad, what I said. It was just my tone. I said cloth diaper like other people say weird to me. Like they are the ones who are weird for not knowing what a cloth diaper is or not using them (I honestly do not think people are weird for not using cloth. I realize it is a commitment that some people are not willing to make).

At LLL last month, another mom was talking about this very thing. She was saying how "normal" has changed for her family. They used to think that breastfeeding into toddler-hood was weird, and co-sleeping was weird, and baby-wearing was weird, and cloth diapering was weird. And now all of that is normal for them. If they see someone formula feeding or talk to someone who doesn't co-sleep, they think those people are weird.

The King and I had a long discussion about this over the course of about three days. We need to stop thinking of things as normal and weird. We need to accept that people are different. We choose different parenting styles because we are different. And we need to quit judging others because they don't do things the same way that we do. Our definition of "normal" needs to change. We are all normal. And we are all weird. And we are all different. And we are all doing the best we can at a job that is, quite possibly, the hardest one we have ever been given.

Adventures In Babywearing

I received this comment from a former post.

Just found your blog and had a question...what is your favorite sling or wrap for babywearing? I was unable to wear my first baby for medical reasons (hers) but am due in april and trying to decide on a few slings....

First, let me say CONGRATS!! I love new babies, and pregnancy is a fun time of life (even when it's horrible!)!

Second, let me say that I am by no means an expert in the area of baby wearing. I am a proud, baby wearing momma, but I am a newbie.

During my pregnancy, I was so focused on the pregnancy and birth, that I forgot about all the "after birth" stuff. Breastfeeding was really the only thing I was prepared for.

Thankfully I found a couple of people who were in the "know" about things I was interested in: cloth diapering, baby wearing, AP (although I didn't realize I was interested in that until after the fact, but that's another post.), stuff like that (thanks Olivia!!!!!!).

Baby wearing, for me, began with a Snuggli that I borrowed from a friend. I didn't realize that there were so many options out there. I thought there was the Snuggli, the Baby Bjorn, and the Ultimate Baby Wrap. Basically the ones they sell at Babies R Us.

So my first purchase was the Ultimate Baby Wrap. I liked it a ton better than the Snuggli. The Princess was snug to me, and I felt more secure with her. However, the Princess is a beast, and her weight quickly make the stretchy material, well, stretch. And then she would sag. Not very comfy. I would have to readjust often. Not very practical, either.

My sister (is the Evil Step-Sister a good cyber name for her?) has a Moby Wrap. And it seems to keep my nephew in place more than the Ultimate. I have heard that the Sleepy Wrap is evenbetter than a Moby, but I have not seen one of these in person, so I can't say for sure.

After the Ultimate I found a Ring Sling (I say "found" because I am cheap, and I bought all of my slings and wraps at a resale shop). I LOVE my Ring Sling. The Princess loves it too. It's bright blue, and when I get it out, she gets really excited. I can wear her different ways in the Ring Sling, and she is pretty secure.

I also found a New Native Carrier. I LOVE it too. I only really carry the Princess one way in the NN, but it is convienient for me. I don't have to mess with loops or wrapping. I just throw it on, and we are ready to go!

Now, I just go back and forth between the NN and the Ring Sling. I would really like to get a Beco. But top on my wish list is a Kangaroo Korner sling! I keep searching ebay and the resale shops. Hey, my birthday is coming up! That would be a great gift for me! Hint! Hint!

Like I said, I am no expert. I never wore the Princess as a newborn, so I don't know what to suggest there.

There are people out there who can help you too. My LeLeche League is pretty much all babywearers. The ladies sometimes bring slings and wraps, and let newbies try them out. There are baby wearing support groups too. If you can try them out first, I think it helps. It is overwhelming, because there is so much out there.

Okay, my baby wearing friends, help me out here! What is your favorite wrap or sling? I have a poll posted on the side of my blog. Make sure you comment too. We want to hear from you!

Here are some links that may help you out!

http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com/

This is a blog of a baby wearer. She often posts tips on how to wear your baby. She also does reviews of slings and wraps. This is where I heard about the sleepy wrap. And yes I stole my post title from her blog title.

http://www.kangarookorner.com/

Kangaroo Korner has a page (many pages really) that shows how to wear a baby in different slings and wraps. I used that a lot when I first started.

http://www.wearsthebaby.com/

http://www.thebabywearer.com/

There's many, many more. Google wraps or slings! There's tons out there. I hope this helps.

Baby wearers, remember to vote on the poll and comment too!