Saturday Babywearers at The Indigo Forest

First as a group, we did the kangroo hip carry and the robins hip carry, talking about hip carries in general. This is the Kangaroo Hip Carry

Kyle and Lion built a really cool train track. It was very impressive.

this mama-to-be came and learned with our new doll. She was 5 months along, and liked the look of wrapping after giving it a try.

She also loved the feel of my silk indio. Kyle is such a great teacher. Nikki (in the foreground) totally agrees!

sweet nap in a colorgrown brown indio.

Greg went for the big back wrap on Saturday!

He totally Rocked It!

the guys, walking around and soothing the girls.

Amsterdam Hoppaditz and Peacock Girasol (on Judah and Kyle)

After lunch we had a little haircut party and sandy modeled her new Snow Rainbow Girasol

Looking around while mommy works.

She slept most of the cut.

Wrapping makes being a working mom and an attached parent possible. Sandy just makes it look cool all on her own.

We made it to TV!!!!!

Ok it’s up!!!   Copy and paste the link here!

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/blog_post.aspx?id=546376

See past entry here if you have no idea what I’m talking about:

http://closeathandbaby.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/mothers-group-of-st-james-parish-in-davidson-mi-our-big-tv-break/

Wow.  All I can say is thank you so much to everybody involved in promoting babywearing everywhere.  I hope to get way better at getting the important messages across.  To calm down and get a more concise language for the real messages I think people need to hear loud and clear.  It was all there this time, but needs more practice.  What does proper positioning look like?  Reducing crying statistics.  Maybe a developmental statistic next time.  I’m trying no to pick apart my language and tone of voice, but it’s hard since all of my international friends/cohorts are poking fun at my midwestern accent!

Thanks for following along with us as we approach our year anniversary of blogging.  It has been quite the ride, and I promise you all, we have more big plans for 2011!

Thanksgiving

Getting your children dressed in the morning and out the door is a major challenge.

I wanna wear daddies shoes today!

Where's Judah?

There she is!!

On Thanksgiving we visit both sets of grandparents.  We are so grateful to have them both so close.  First, Kyles family, for the afternoon.   Football, fun, and an amazing turkey dinner at halftime.

bit of a smudge on the lens of the camera, but here we all are!

Just the girls, kickin' it in our vintage red pfau.

Dommy and Katherine and Judah. Looking beautiful! These girls are so sweet natured.

Ask in the boys and your asking for trouble.

The kids napped the whole way between dinner locations, and woke up happy to eat and play again.

My cousin came in from California and we all enjoyed her so much. But especially my Grandmother.

She is a rockin cool person, and lucky enough, occasionally runs into my sister and Logan in LA! Hollywood is smaller than I thought I guess.

I am so grateful for all of the fun family closeness that we had this year at Thanksgiving.  Thanks for sharing our journey everyone!  Being a family is the most amazing journey I’ve yet been on.  Blogging about family life, I hope, is helping me to find more blessings in my life, and in the world.

Back to Babywearers! It felt like an eternity!

Even though I only missed one week!

Barb Doing a double hammock with an audiance

Mira having fun in Tussah Silk Nino

Look at all of these babywearing mammas!

My colorgrown Green cotton indio got alot of attention

Short Cross Carry

Lauren, Barb, Sandy and I compared new pfaus and many pamirs

Oh man, the Pamir fever is heavy!

This awesome twin mamma and another brand new mamma, learned to finally be comfy in their moby wraps with their little girls.

Beautiful Identical twin girls. this is a ringsling over her mobywrap. Two very happy babies and one very happy mamma.

I cannot stress how much the comfort of the wearer is as important as the comfort of the baby.

Judah had an absolute fit every time I picked up, held, or helped with another baby. SIGH. This yummy 3 week old in my night rainbow shorty was heaven. Double sigh.

Lauren's new pfauen were the hit of the meeting. (wrap wise. I'm pretty sure the 3 new baby girls stole the show over all)

Sandy, getting some front snuggle time in Leo Marine.

A second beautiful Ardent Girasol (Russian Exclusive) has entered the group circle. I love how striped/rainbow wraps give such a different look depending on which side you wrap "up".

I got to pop one of the twins in a ringsling over my Double hammock carry for Judah, while mamma experimented with back wearing.

Twin Sister, and an Olives and Applesauce Carrier in the background.

Surely a success for a first attempt.

Judah gave me the pleasure of falling asleep in our new amsterdam hoppaditz. This is one comfy wrap!

I stayed after to watch lauren teach a kettlebell class. In her new burgund pfau. I was beyond freekin' impressed.

Safe and happy with mama the whole time.

Yes, this is actually a real working mom, at work, rockin' out pushups, with her baby on her back.

Then we headed to the mall to meet up with Lauren and some other ladies for lunch and more wrap talk. I love how on tuesdays the babywearing geekery never ends!

My heart practically bursts as I look at this picture. All this beautiful wearing. All of these happy held babies.

Wednesday morning I wore Judah in the colorgrown green indio again. We are loving that wrap. It is just perfect for snuggles with a big girl. Here is Sary doing some caregiver wearing. She took Judah on a walk in Zara Earth and said she was asleep before she left sight of the house.

Spent yesterday cooking and getting ready for our Thanksgiving marathon.  First Morses, then Greenes.  I am so excited to see my cousin Shoshana!

Finally Back to Work!

I LOVE my job.  I don’t think I could say that enough.  Friday I saw a client at The Little Seedling, and finally matched her happily, after much experimenting, with a Boba Carrier.  Pictures are trapped on my phone for now, but I will add them for sure!

Monday I drove down to a repeat client with a sweet little preemie boy, who is mastering wrapping.

(see past entry here: http://closeathandbaby.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/exclusive-girasol-geek-out/ )

This mamma-baby pair is dealing with a lot of challenges, and skating through it beautifully.  Learning to nurse, wear, and just get through the day is a big challenge for a new mom-baby pair.  No matter how many children you have, each one is totally different.

This little guy has a condition called Torticollis.  A condition which is totally correctable through chiropractics and cranial sacral work, but it can cause some bumps in the road as a baby gets started in life.  Essentially the infant prefers to lean its head to one side creating spine positioning problems, nursing problems, among other things.  If not treated this condition manifests later as Colic, fussy-ness, sleep issues, having a preference for one breast, or inability to nurse well because of being uncomfortable in the held position, and later on: learning disabilities, and verbal apraxia, among other things.

This little one most likely has Torticollis from lying in the womb a certain way to accomadate his living conditions (such a smart little guy). Some babies get it from having cord around their neck, and vaginally born babies (not this guy) can get it on their trip through the birth canal.  One side effect is that proper positoning in a carrier is uncomfortable for this kind of baby, and his body seeks out the position it is used to assuming.

Here he is as properly positioned as he will allow, even in his sleep. He wakes uncomfortable, and was not happy at me every time I corrected his positioning. Little guy is STRONG.

Here is the positioning that he prefers. For now.

Chiropractics sets it right (or cranial sacral) and I expect this guy to be comfy in the proper position in no time.  He has the most dedicated mamma. (in a beautiful silk indio) 

When I'm teaching wrapping. I try to emphasize that one of the greatest advantages to using a wrap, is that it has as much support to offer you as it does the baby. Your comfort should be of utmost importance as well. It makes for more happy wearing for both, and really feels great. Almost like a hug!

Update on those 2 in a few weeks!

After this meeting came another fabulous Thai lunch (see previous entry) with my sweet friend and my sweet goddaughter.

We talked alot about hip carries and ringslings. This is a scrap of my very first german style woven wrap, Anna, by Storchenweige

Wild success and cuddles!

I am food shopping a lot and getting ready for Thanksgiving in a flurry now.  I am excited for my cousin to come to town, and sad that my sister will not make it this year.   Ann Arbor Babywearers later today is going to be so exciting!  Because I missed last week, I feel like it’s been forever since I saw my posse!  Pictures to come, you can all be sure!

Weekend Visitors!

Friday night both of our children went to Dommy’s house in Howell, and spent the night.  Kyle and I went to dinner and Harry Potter 7.  We had such an amazing time together just the two of us, and knowing that the kids were happy and having fun was a big part of it.  The movie was wonderful, and I told Kyle the second half (yet to be released) all the way home.  We have only one or two more nights like these before the new baby joins our circle, and I must say I am looking forward to them very much.  Almost as much as our third child, almost here.

Saturday morning we woke up early, despite having no children in the house, and went to the Washtenaw Raceway for the practice hours at Kyle's Remote Control Race Club. Racing takes all day, but there are free driving times in the the morning, and it was so fun to be there and see kyle doing his thing.

There is the drivers stand. The members of this club are really devoted to maintaining the track through the weeks, and are a close group. (for men )

Here's a shot of the whole track from the stands.

Then we went to Zingermans Deli to meet up with my parents and grandmother for an awesome lunch. We see many babywearers around town, and this mamma was sporting a peekaroo babywearing vest, to her and her babies immense comfort and delight.

Sandy and Greg came over with Camillia for dinner and to give Kyle a holiday hair trim. Greg wore Camillia through dinner and then to sleep in their new Snow rainbow girasol.

Sandy was thrilled to be hands free for dinner, and then totally evened up my chop job on Kyle's hair

The kids came home in the middle of dinner, and we all had a beautiful evening in our home.  Sunday was fun and full of working on my office/studio downstairs.  I really hope to make a piece of jewelry again before the baby is born.

Taking it Easy

Considering my last posts, none of this should be surprising I guess.  I was taking it easy at home last week with some contractions and lots of baby activity on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week,  I guess this mama is a bit over stretched physically, and the little one demands I slow down.  Thursday and Friday I felt much better, and Saturday I have been back to normal.

Wrapping is a tool of the daddy trade in this house. Kyle tried our new winter weight 2007 pamir the other night to put Judah to sleep.

In case you are wondering, Kyle wraps himself.

Kyle did some extra wearing because I was not supposed to. Fire Fish is an awesome daddy wrap!

Hight five on the wrap job daddy!

My friends came by with fluffy mail to share! Lauren and I won a Vintage Red Pfau on German ebay which showed up last week It is so soft and amazing.

When I did go out finally on thursday, it was to see these beautiful ladies, in a stripped ficus linen indio.

babywearing coats are going to be hiding our beautiful wraps for a whole season!!

Under here is my beautiful zara aubergine. But at least she's nice and snuggly!

More frequent entries, I promise!  Plus, I’m so excited to see if we got on tv!!!

Winding Down (well at least for me)

I have been all jazzed up since Friday’s fun day in Davidson.

After Davidson, Lauren and I picked up her daughter at school and came back to my house, where Mazzy wore her sister Finn for the first time!

I happen to think Old weave Girasols are perfect for sibling wearing. (See Sage and Kalila last late winter in Polka (I'll find the link. . .))

Wearing your sibling is a much safer more secure way of holding them, especially when you are 7 years old

Serious Sister bonding in Peacock Girasol.

It really feels great to keep working.  Business for Close at Hand Babywearing Service is really picking up.

Saturday’s client was an older first time mom, with a chunky baby and a bad back. I totally had my camera, but didn’t take many pictures.   She stressed simple, and had been struggling with a Moby Wrap and a Balboa Sling, which she had been making work for her for these 5 months.  I brought a variety of wraps, but mostly carriers, and I predicted with her lower back pain, and wearing style, that she would choose the Napsack Mei Tai.  The hourglass shaped straps provide optimal upper back weight distribution.  We had fun taking her sweet boy in and out of every carrier that I brought, he was happy in all of them, chewing away on all the straps.  This mamma was so devoted to finding something to work for her and her baby, and really taught me alot about how complex even some babywearing concepts that have become wrote memory to me, are really a matter of practice, and the “want” or “need” too.  She did check the Napsack out of the library, and the Olives and Applesauce carrier to compare to it, for good measure.  I really hope one starts to clearly give her success, they were anxious to be close, and he was a big 5 month old.

Around the house, Simone is the most worn baby by far.  Sarah’s Girasol Spring is here (her very first woven wrap)  and they are doing amazing!!!

It's a vibrant beautiful colorway. Like rain, and clouds with sun behind them.

She even took a snooze on her mammas back.

I swear I took it easy on Sunday though.  This baby in my belly is starting to demand it!

Mothers Group of St. John’s Parish in Davidson, MI. Our Big TV Break!

That's right! This is me and The NBC Local Lady trying to get a microphone into a double hammock!

I wore my friends baby in my violet white indio, because he was bound to be more mainstream looking than me wearing a writhing 23 lb toddler.

I talked about everything I could fit in. Positioning, safety, closeness. I wish I could remember it better, but adrenaline makes things fuzzy, just like pregnancy.

I could tell she was partial to the idea, and totally interested, but skeptical that it would work for her and her toddler.

Like an awesome journalist she jumped right in, and didn't give up.

I picked out a wrap conversion Octi Mei Tai because I thought it wouldn't due to have but poppage on tv her babe calmed down and loved it.

I did a bit of tandem wearing for the camera, and for judah's sake. She fell asleep and we had to get Tadgh off from under her!

We didn't get a good pic, but this shows the logistics of it

There were lots of interested mammas with little babies.

And alot of women with big kids who really wanted up!

They were so excited!

These 2 couldn't have been happier.

Wendy fell in Love with Toscana Ellipsen. It is yummy to wrap with and totally her color teal.

Lauren came with me and was such a huge help and awesome wrapping teacher and babywearing advocate.

By the end of the interview, she was total convert!

Thanks to Stephanie who made this all possible. You rock Teffer, and you are an amazing babywearing educator and advocate too!

Here she is teaching a mamma her first double hammock

 

With Wild Success!

We also did alot of temp trading of wraps with our Genesee county friends for our own amusement. This is Lauren in Zara Coffee.

There was also a woman there talking about cloth diapering products. Mandi from TheChangingPad.com did a wonderful job explaining all the awesome new stuff out there for cloth diapering our little ones.

She was wearing her baby in Natibaby Green Greece with Wool while being interviewed. It was so cool!

Judah is not a huge fan of me wearing other babies. This is Finn in Night Rainbow Girasol 2nd release

Wendy communicating on her phone with her hubby in an amazing wrap job in the new didymos Teviot with wool.

Look at this perfect sleeping Trav in a double hammock! He's adorable!

Steph. tried a ringsling even though she was skeptical, and loved my backcarry technique.

It's very supportive and offers lots of coverage for any size baby or toddler. It has the perfect seat every time!

This mamma was super happy to try all different kinds of wraps, and you can see here my new banner! It was a really cool set up.

This super sweet happy 3 month old just melted my heart!

Over all, this could be a really amazing thing for Close at Hand Babywearing Service, and for Babywearing in General!  Thanks again to the Davidson St. John’s church mothers group for having me out, and for promoting babywearing as safe and normal and wonderful!!!  I will link to the News story if it ever airs.  Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Pfew! Some Catch up pics.

Baby Simone in Tussah Silk nino wrapped cotton side out.

Sorry to have needed a break from blogging.   You would not believe how busy Close at Hand Babywearing Service is!  Also, new roommates and Lion’s behaivor have kept us on our toes and constantly adjusting to new things.  We are still very happy and doing a lot of wearing though!

Judah and Sary on a fall walk in Green Wool Fish. Judah is really getting so big, but she has gotten back in to being wrapped anyway!

Last weekend saw a visit to Uncle Kirk and Aunt Melissa's house.

My sweet niece is growing up!

Baby Simone in Linen Goldfish while I clean the kitchen. I can't wait to have a little baby to wrap!

"mooor peeeease"

Judah went through a strange thing this week where she skipped naps and then passed out at 5:30 and slept 14 hours, 3 days in a row.

We had a very special Ann Arbor babywearers this week, lots of new members, returning members and a special surprise visitor from far away, Wowthird, my online friend from The Babywearer.com came up from Ohio. (To Try Lauren's Pamir)

This little chunky baby is still only 11 weeks old! Iris Didymos in a Front Wrap Cross Carry

This mamma really connected with an Olives and Applesauce Carrier. The awesom infant harness in this carrier makes proper positioning possible.

Lauren and Rosie Sitting in a Tree. . . W-r-a-p-p-i-n-g! Thanks to Sandy, Lauren has ANOTHER ISO! (translation: Wrap that she wants. )

The group's shorty, Claudia Jean Girasol, saw some action. This simple carry is called and Rucksack Carry Tied under the Bum or RUB.

It's one Judah and I love and use very often.

It's a simple and beautiful carry for a calm willing wrappee.

It was so great to see people come to the new location for the first time. It's great to know so many moms I saw a while ago are going off on their own and continuing wrapping.

Sandy's Magic Zink

Camillia is getting so big!!!

I think Jades are wonderful short wraps for single layer carries. This one is Jade Deli LE

Once she was asleep I re-wrapped her in our new 2007 fall release pamir. I will just have to comment later in it's own post some other day. There are no words right now, our love is so fresh.

Pamir again the next morning through the Farmers Market

Wednesday I went to the Nursing Cafe and Support Group at The Indigo Forest. I had a wonderful experience getting support. I am concerned Judah is Weaning. and have since this discovered that my breastmilk is turned to colostrum (clear, i.e. not milk ) I guess it's good for the new baby though

Thursday we attended our old playgroup Parenting Arts, for the first time in a long time. Judah slept through the entire thing in Kobalt-Zimpt cotton Indio on my back in a reenforced ruck.

I LOVE this indio. It actually has three colors of threads instead of the usual 2, giving it so much depth.

At parenting arts, it's so cool, it's a given, all parents are babywearers.