There are new pictures posted for those who know where they are.
E-mail me if you haven't seen them yet. At some point in time, I'll learn how to link from Blogger to other sites. Or perhaps I'll find out what Flicker is all about.
In any case, enjoy.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Baby Wearer
Maia was three weeks yesterday. I have been going through phases of staying in all day with her or trying to do too much with her. For the past while, errands have meant loading her into the car seat, then either balancing the car seat on a shopping cart (a scary task for the one-handed Mom out alone!) or pulling the *light* stroller in and out of the trunk. What a hassle for short errands. I'd tried out the sling at home...but was still feeling wary about using it in public. I'm a new Mom...everything is a bit weird right now.
Wednesday I attended a "New Mommy" group at the hospital where we delivered. All the moms had the kids in their travel systems...car seats and strollers. The hall to the auditorium looked like a stroller warehouse. I was no exception. I had just settled onto the floor with Maia, having unhooked her and pulled her form the car seat, when in walks the slingin' momma. She had a beautiful pink floral ring sling wrapped around her 5-month-old girl. Both mom and baby looked great. She was casual as she unslung the baby and got set up on the floor. The baby was happy as a clam and mom had the easiest time settling in. I was watching with envy.
Later that evening at my regular La Leche League meeting one new mom in the group asked for a sling demonstration. I knew I had to get going on the slinging. I have a wonderful sling...long...full on pockets...purple to boot! I just needed a reason to get comfortable with it. All these other moms with slings, coupled with the ever-increasing desire within myself to get out more pushed me over the uncomfortable edge. I was ready to sling, or die trying.
Yesterday I needed to run three quick errands. Pharmacy. Target. Whole Foods. All in separate locations. Each stop would require a seperate car seat-stroller exchange. I didn't want to be gone for four hours to run three quick errands. It was time to break in the sling. I waited for Maia to go into her afternoon sleepy mode. I had her eat, changed her and loaded her into the car seat. I then realized that sling life would be easy if I put on the sling before I got into the car. Who would even notice the fabric while I was tucked into the car myself and it would save tons of time if I wasn't taking on and off the sling. After all...convenience is the watchword here. All slung up we went off to pick up mom's prescription. I found a parking place near the door with and empty space next to me so I would have some room to maneuver the baby into the sling. Carefully, I pulled sleepy Maia up and out and opened the sling. Something must have been in the air because she slid right in and into a perfect sling position. Her legs were crossed, her back was supported and her little head was peeking up and out but cradled by fabric. She was perfect and I was ecstatic.
The women at the pharmacy loved the sling. They thought it was very clever. Target went just as well for us. It was so nice to be able to go in and just pick up the couple of things I needed and run out again. The sling's pockets are deep and big, so I was able to put my wallet, phone, keys, and a burp cloth for Maia in them. Another bonus: No bag to lug around with the baby.
Whole Foods, which is a logistical nightmare akin to Trader Joe's as far as tight aisles and shopping carts go, was made much better by the sling and a small cart: a weird, small, cart that seems to have been made for the elderly--or moms with small children riding on their chests. Gotta love the upper-crust hippie store.
I am feeling so much more confidant with the sling. John and I are going to go out this afternoon, and I plan on slinging it again with Miss Maia. I have to finish the padded sling now; I didn't quite get to it before she was born. And I now am on the lookout for some beautiful floral print fabric of my own for a new sling...the fun never ends. It also doesn't hurt that when we got home, there was a package for Miss Maia setting on the porch. It seems that everyone wants us to sling together because inside the package was a wonderful hip carrier--for when she's a little bit bigger.
I may never put her down. :)
Wednesday I attended a "New Mommy" group at the hospital where we delivered. All the moms had the kids in their travel systems...car seats and strollers. The hall to the auditorium looked like a stroller warehouse. I was no exception. I had just settled onto the floor with Maia, having unhooked her and pulled her form the car seat, when in walks the slingin' momma. She had a beautiful pink floral ring sling wrapped around her 5-month-old girl. Both mom and baby looked great. She was casual as she unslung the baby and got set up on the floor. The baby was happy as a clam and mom had the easiest time settling in. I was watching with envy.
Later that evening at my regular La Leche League meeting one new mom in the group asked for a sling demonstration. I knew I had to get going on the slinging. I have a wonderful sling...long...full on pockets...purple to boot! I just needed a reason to get comfortable with it. All these other moms with slings, coupled with the ever-increasing desire within myself to get out more pushed me over the uncomfortable edge. I was ready to sling, or die trying.
Yesterday I needed to run three quick errands. Pharmacy. Target. Whole Foods. All in separate locations. Each stop would require a seperate car seat-stroller exchange. I didn't want to be gone for four hours to run three quick errands. It was time to break in the sling. I waited for Maia to go into her afternoon sleepy mode. I had her eat, changed her and loaded her into the car seat. I then realized that sling life would be easy if I put on the sling before I got into the car. Who would even notice the fabric while I was tucked into the car myself and it would save tons of time if I wasn't taking on and off the sling. After all...convenience is the watchword here. All slung up we went off to pick up mom's prescription. I found a parking place near the door with and empty space next to me so I would have some room to maneuver the baby into the sling. Carefully, I pulled sleepy Maia up and out and opened the sling. Something must have been in the air because she slid right in and into a perfect sling position. Her legs were crossed, her back was supported and her little head was peeking up and out but cradled by fabric. She was perfect and I was ecstatic.
The women at the pharmacy loved the sling. They thought it was very clever. Target went just as well for us. It was so nice to be able to go in and just pick up the couple of things I needed and run out again. The sling's pockets are deep and big, so I was able to put my wallet, phone, keys, and a burp cloth for Maia in them. Another bonus: No bag to lug around with the baby.
Whole Foods, which is a logistical nightmare akin to Trader Joe's as far as tight aisles and shopping carts go, was made much better by the sling and a small cart: a weird, small, cart that seems to have been made for the elderly--or moms with small children riding on their chests. Gotta love the upper-crust hippie store.
I am feeling so much more confidant with the sling. John and I are going to go out this afternoon, and I plan on slinging it again with Miss Maia. I have to finish the padded sling now; I didn't quite get to it before she was born. And I now am on the lookout for some beautiful floral print fabric of my own for a new sling...the fun never ends. It also doesn't hurt that when we got home, there was a package for Miss Maia setting on the porch. It seems that everyone wants us to sling together because inside the package was a wonderful hip carrier--for when she's a little bit bigger.
I may never put her down. :)
Saturday, June 10, 2006
I'm Still Here!
It's been almost a month now, I know. My first excuse is finals.
Finished them. Yeah! Still waiting for grades to be posted. It takes forever for the grades to be recorded to our SJSU accounts. Why can't they figure out a faster way? Let teachers post directly for their rosters? There has got to be a better way. I hate waiting for the final grade to come down the pipeline.
My second excuse is. Well. I haven't really been in a writing mood since school finished. I needed a brain break and some time to get the finishing touches done on the baby room. It's still not "perfect" but at least it's set up and workable.
Which is good for my final excuse.
Our baby girl was born on June 2, 2006 at 4:15 PM. Maia Evelyn weighed 7 lbs 14oz and was 19.5" long. She's a dear heart. And very time consuming. And well worth every moment we get to spend with her.
We've had family in and out for the past week, and we've had some bumps on the parenting road already. I'll be sharing the details...but for now, the wiggle worm wants to be changed and fed and cuddled and loved, and I am only too happy to comply.
Finished them. Yeah! Still waiting for grades to be posted. It takes forever for the grades to be recorded to our SJSU accounts. Why can't they figure out a faster way? Let teachers post directly for their rosters? There has got to be a better way. I hate waiting for the final grade to come down the pipeline.
My second excuse is. Well. I haven't really been in a writing mood since school finished. I needed a brain break and some time to get the finishing touches done on the baby room. It's still not "perfect" but at least it's set up and workable.
Which is good for my final excuse.
Our baby girl was born on June 2, 2006 at 4:15 PM. Maia Evelyn weighed 7 lbs 14oz and was 19.5" long. She's a dear heart. And very time consuming. And well worth every moment we get to spend with her.
We've had family in and out for the past week, and we've had some bumps on the parenting road already. I'll be sharing the details...but for now, the wiggle worm wants to be changed and fed and cuddled and loved, and I am only too happy to comply.
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