The Pearls.
Oh I how I long for them to be held accountable. One day they will be. I was going to blog about how their book, To Train up a Child, and their ministry No Greater Joy has led to yet another murder. Then I saw Rebecca’s post. She says it much better. Go read.
And in case you’re wondering, here is a picture of a supply line:
I am terribly surprised that Cedar turned half a year yesterday. How it flies. So how is she doing?
Health: no sicklies so far. I attribute that, in part, to all her wonderful milk mamas who have passed on their immunities to her.
Hyper: she is a mover and a shaker. Always the flapping of arms, rapid breath, quickening heart. She is desperate to crawl. She does push-ups; lifting all but her hands and toes off the ground. I cannot wear her on my hip because she is a grabber and I quickly learned that a back-carry is a must.
Houdini: she tries to escape from any baby holder in which she is placed. The instant she is put into a bouncy chair, she begins arching her back and inching until she sits on the floor with a grin. Of course, we don’t leave her in a bouncy unstrapped unsupervised. But it is fun to watch this houdini act.
Habit: Much to my surprise, she is content when I take her on consults or even do presentations. She sits happily squealing her dolphin squeaks and flapping those arms. She is decidedly not content for anyone (!!) else to hold her very long. And that is the most difficult part of the Cedar gig. I have a month-long break once my current clients birth and I plan to use it to help her expand her knowledge of the loving folks around her. No idea how. Open to ideas. Please!!
Sleep: The question everyone asks of every new mama: How is she sleeping? Cedar sleeps normally. So many people forget that babies are biologically programmed to sleep in short cycles as a protection against sleeping too deeply. They are born with an immature Circadian rhythm that slowly settles into pattern. Of course, just when the pattern sets–well, then there’s teething, growth spurts, etc. to interrupt sleep. I don’t get too stressed about sleep. She takes 2-3 naps per day and nurses off and on at night. I rarely get out of bed with her; usually we stay put and she nurses while I doze. The “problem,” if there is one, is that she nurses to sleep and it is the only way (other than wearing her in a wrap) she goes to sleep. So if she wakes, we nurse. And this is a problem if I’m gone all night for a birth. Of course, The No-Cry Sleep Solution has some ideas for changing the sleep-suck association but, frankly, it is too easy to nurse her right now. Sorry Scott–you’re on your own if I’m away.
And if anyone would like to see the hyper little babe:
Did you know that the first American city to celebrate Mardi Gras was Mobile Alabama? Who would have thought? And it continues to be the place to celebrate family-friendly Mardi Gras. Is this a well known fact and am I simply out of the loop?
My husband’s sweet Alabaman, Alabamian, er, friend from Alabama is named Harriet. And she sent some of Mobile’s Mardi Gras joy to us this week.
Norah, Cedar, and I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Auntie Harriet but we’ve made her an honorary member of the family. I’ve heard she’s the grandest outfitter in all of Alabama. If you’re in the area, stop in at Fairhope Boat Company and say hello to Harriet. I don’t know this for certain but my gut feeling is that Harriet gives good hugs and fantastic hospitality. I sure hope I’m in the area one day.
Oh, and the gift I got? A hand-made reversible bag. I love it!! Thanks Auntie Harriet!
I need to know by February 12 if you plan to take my Hypnobabies class. This series begins Feb. 19 and will last six consecutive Fridays from 6pm-9pm.
Please email me for more information: j_byers [at] bellsouth [dot] net.
Bird-watching in the snow
I kept a notepad near me so I could catch some of her words today.
Are you seeing any trends?
But my favorite:
“Mom, you’re the bestest mommy in the whole wide world.” (Ok, that was after I made hot chocolate and popcorn).
1) You can choose the status quo: do what your doctor says, show up at the hospital when your labor begins (or more likely your induction), vaccinate according to the CDC schedule, etc.
or
2) Scramble to become an astute researcher in a very short while: learn to discern myth from reality, question the status quo, wonder where the boundaries of your new power as parent begin and end.
And that myth from reality part is tough even for doctors! I was at a birth during which the mom opted for an epidural. The anesthesiologist said, “There is no truth to the myth that epidurals slow down labor.” No less than 10 minutes after he left the room, the OB came in and said, “Now, we know that epidurals often slow labor…”
Frankly, choice 1 comes with less stress. Choosing this path is not indicative of your parenting merit or your character. It is a choice. I’ve had clients who made this choice. They hire a doula to guard their informed consent or provide need-to-know info on the spot.
Choice 2 requires quite a bit of work. And if you’ve not been thinking much about birth or the politics/litigation/trends of the American birth scene, it can feel overwhelming to tackle such a monster during pregnancy.
To me, choosing the second path has the benefit of springboarding you into parenting. Most things in parenting are not cut and dry. There are hard choices to make and for the first time, perhaps, you’re making big choices for another human being. Pregnancy is a wonderful time to begin finding your mama or papa voice.
Noelle and Zach are doing this. And not just about their birth choices. Before they became pregnant, they were already thinking through questions of vaccinations.
Eek…the dreaded vaccination question. CDC schedule, alternate schedule, no schedule? Aluminum, mercury, pertussis, oh my!
Ha! If there is one area I refuse to give advice, it is vaccinations. There is risk on both sides. And I believe only the parent has the right to decide which risk to take: possible disease or possible side-effect.
Ah but Noelle and Zach are in a unique position. They not only get to decide about the usual shots (around 20 before the age of 6 months), they also get to decide about shots like japanese encephalitis and rabies. See, these cats will be moving to a developing country when their wee one is around 5 or 6 months. Shhh…don’t tell them I said this but I’m very glad I’m not in their shoes when it comes to making decisions about those vaccines!
Pregnancy is a beautiful time to try out our courage, our strength, and our intuition. Pregnancy is a beautiful time to begin parenting.
So what is the deal with those necklaces all the babies are wearing these days?
They are baltic amber teething necklaces. And no, they are not meant for tots to gnaw on. The necklace isn’t a teething toy.
Amber contains succinic acid which is an analgesic and purported healing agent. As the amber rubs against the baby’s warm skin, it releases oil rich with succinic acid. Used more commonly in Europe, this homeopathic remedy is non-invasive and, well, stylish.
Does it work? I don’t know. It doesn’t hurt. And the necklaces are sweet. Teething bites and frankly, I’ll try anything. Except orajel. I tried that with Norah and managed to get her in her eye. Bad mama moment.
When looking for a safe amber necklace for your baby, select one that is knotted between each bead. If the necklace should break, the bead won’t be an immediate choking hazard. It is recommended that the necklace be removed when children sleep. If children are chewing on the beads, the necklace should be removed as the amber may chip.
I have purchased several products from Inspired by Finn and have been very pleased with their quick shipping, frequent discounts, and quality. Plus, it is a work-at-home-mama outfit. Pick up a pair of babylegs while you’re there. No, I didn’t receive anything to promote her store!
You simply must listen to this song. I’ve been loving it so these last few months.
My very first post:
The purpose of this blog–wow, why am I doing this? I suppose it is because I have benefitted from other mom’s blogs. They have graciously given me a glimpse into their homes and lives; assuring me that it is normal for a baby not to sleep through the night, that it is ok to sometimes still wear your pj’s at 3pm, and that it is a good sign that your toddler “nurses” inanimate objects–she will be a great nurturer one day.
So, here goes…I’m offering a gift in kind–a peak into our life in all its fantastic energy. We are a work in progress.
And then some favorite posts:
When Norah got a pea stuck in her nose
Why I wish doulas didn’t exist
Living poo free (and yes, I still do)
The time Norah got stuck in a shopping cart
My sister’s guest post on modern day slavery
Are you pregnant with twins? Or do you know someone who is?
Acupuncture Center of Greenville will host a special Twin Day just for mamas expecting twins on 2/2 from 4pm-6pm. The event is FREE and will include free acupuncture and henna art. I’ll be there to talk about birth options and resources.
Acupuncture is an excellent health choice for pregnant women. Chinese medicine can help with specific pregnancy complaints but more than that, it can create an empowering and positive experience of holistic well-being..
Don’t miss out on a special day for these special women!
Inexplicable Ways 
