So, lets talk about babywearing. Because, really, this is my biggest 'hobby' right now.
It's expensive. ....or is it? Yes, wraps or carriers cost on average between $50 and $200. Most people have at least two different carriers for different reasons, so you're looking at probably $100 at the VERY least. Most likely a bit more than that.
Which, by itself, is not expensive.
But, rarely does it stop there. Most people who babywear think of carriers a bit like accessories. They become addictive in the way that most women love shoes and purses and clothes. Since I don't care for shoes, or purses, and I like my clothes to have a $5 price tag attached to them, yes, the price tag on a carrier does look incredibly expensive. But, also because I do not do any of these things, we can afford it.
This doesn't even touch on the fact that most carriers are completely re-sellable. And usually, for at the VERY least 50% of the purchase price. Unlike pretty much everything else you buy for a baby (which, if you re-sell, you are lucky to get 50% of the purchase price for. VERY lucky, no matter how well you took care of it or how little you used it).
So, I guess I might as well do the obligatory introduction post- different carriers, their uses, my preferences. This is by and far not even close to a comprehensive list. And it's just my opinions- a lot of people find different carriers more or less useful for different reasons than I do. That's ok. Being different is good (remember my previous post? We like differences!) If you have any questions about carriers, definitely check out thebabywearer.com. They have a TON of resources for you. If you want to BUY a carrier, they have a FSOT (For Sale or Trade) section, and you can also try diaperswappers.com which has a carrier FSOT as well as cloth diaper one, and babycenter's babywearing group, which also has a swap.
Carriers are one of the few things in life you will find you most likely PREFER used. Because they're already broken in most of the time, and so you don't have to do it yourself. AND you don't have to pay full price. So, you pay less and get what is arguably a better product. AWESOME.
There are four basic types of carriers:
Mei Tai/ Asian Carriers
Soft Sided carriers
Slings
Wraps
Mei Tai/Asian carriers encompass Mei Tais, Podaegi, Onbuhimo, and several others that I'm sure I have no clue about. Mei Tais are the most common ones, though. These tend to be the catch all carrier for just about anyone. They're pretty easy to use, straightforward, and relatively moderately priced. You can find a good one new for about $80 and used in the $50 range. MAKE SURE you do your research, though. A lot of these that you find on Etsy and Ebay and even in stores are not made sturdy enough to carry a heavy baby for very long. So, if you want one that'll last, check out thebabywearer and other websites to make certain the carrier is a good brand. Some brands that I know for sure are good: Kozy, Babyhawk, Perfect Papoose, Wrapstar, Ultimate Mama/Man Carrier. I know there are more, but I've only used the first three personally and I'm not really that big on Mei Tai's in general.
Soft Sided Carriers- These are also called 'buckle' carriers. They are like Bjorns, only better because they do not dangle your poor helpless offspring by his/her crotch. They are also more supportive for your back, so you can wear past 15lbs without wanting to die. Good carriers to look for are Ergo, Beco, Olives and Applesauce, Boba, Kinderpack, etc.
Slings- Ring slings and pouches both come under this category. These use only one shoulder to support your little one, so most people prefer them when your little one is actually little. Otherwise, it starts to hurt. They're particularly useful with newborns, though, and are reportedly the easiest to nurse in. I never got the hang of them personally, until I got a wrap converted one when Little Dude was already like 20lbs and it killed me to wear him in it longer than maybe 10 minutes. You do NOT want to use the Infantino or any of the kind that encourage you to wear your baby like a messenger bag. You should be able to see baby's face AT ALL TIMES in a sling. 90% of your store brand slings are dangerous to wear with- the exception being the pouch style slings like hotslings, and then you have to be VERY careful that you are using them properly if you want to use a cradle position. Mostly, stick with the tummy to tummy position where baby is upright and you'll be better off. Good brands for this are Sleeping Baby productions, Sweet Pea, Kalea, Sakura Bloom.
Wraps-
There are two kinds of wraps: stretchy, and woven. A stretchy wrap is good for when baby is little (less than 15lbs). They're also really good for learning how to wrap, supposedly, but I never got the hang of this either. Then again, I seem to be the exception rather than the rule in all this babywearing stuff, so don't listen to me ^_-. Figure out what works for you. Anyhow, these are your Moby wraps, Sleepy wraps, etc. These are pretty cheap (usually you can find a used Moby/etc for like $25, and new they're maybe $50?) and you can easily make your own ghetto version by going to JoAnns, getting like 5-6 yards of a stretchy jersey knit and slicing it in half lengthwise. Yep, that's it. No sewing required, 'cause it doesn't fray, though you can if you want it to look purdy. Cost maybe $20 for two that way, but they don't come with instructions,which you'll probably want to look up videos online anyways so who cares?
Woven wraps are a whole different animal- they are specially woven fabrics (you CAN buy cotton gauze or osnaburg fabric to use instead, but it will NOT be as supportive) that support baby. They are similar to stretchy wraps, in that they are a big long stretch of fabric. They are completely different, though, in that you can use these for back carries, and they are supportive for babies over 15lbs, whoo! Woven wraps are totally my favourite. Why? Well, unlike Soft Sided carriers, you can use these no matter what size you (or your husband, or your baby) are. SSCs are very individual, and some people with different body types like different ones better. Plus, if you and your husband both want to use it, you have to keep adjusting the buckles every time you switch. Annoying, and totally eliminates the point of a SSC (having something quick and easy!). Mei Tais are similar to wraps in this fashion, as most people find they can share them easily (since you tie instead of buckling, you don't have to adjust the straps) but, some Mei Tais are better for different sized adults and babies. When Little Dude was like 4 months old, I could not find a Mei Tai that didn't seem HUGE on the bottom, and since he wanted his little legs dangling out of the carrier at that point, I felt like they'd be stretched way too far for comfort. Not a problem in a wrap, which can be adjusted to your baby's size perfectly.
So, yeah, thanks for making it through all that with me. Now you're going "OMG I'm STILL confused! What do I get for x friend for their babyshower that I can just purchase at Target five minutes before I show up?" ..well, first of all, SLACKER! Second of all, you can get a Moby wrap or something, but I'd really suggest shopping online instead. There are VERY few good carriers that you can just nab at Target or Walmart or even Babies R Us. You don't want to go with a Baby Bjorn (seriously, your friend will thank you for sparing their back that agony) and you don't want to go with anything made by Infantino (unless you want it to fall apart). Yes, these carriers might be cheaper, but...well, you get what you pay for. They're uncomfortable, and often poorly made.
If you still have questions, though, feel free to drop me a line. I LOVE these things, because without them I'd get even less done than I already do, and my back would be in even worse shape than my c-section and pregnancy left it in. They are seriously the most useful thing a parent will ever own. And I don't bite, I promise.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Twins
Twins do NOT have an innate, unique bond. Really. I promise. We are not psychic or empathic or whatever other romantic nonsense has been drilled into your head by 10million Lifetime movies and romance novels. I know, I know, it bursts the bubble of millions of twin fanatic future mommies out there everywhere, but it's the truth.
This is not to say that they cannot be incredibly close. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that two people who grew up sharing their entire lives (down to the minute) with one another up until adulthood could be very very close. But, do not expect this to be the case Necessarily.
I speak this from ACTUAL firsthand experience. Not the firsthand experience of having 'witnessed' it or known someone who spoke about it, or whatever. I AM a twin- my twin brother Itamu is great. No, really, he's a good guy. I can count on him for anything- he's probably the most loyal man in the universe and his intentions are ALWAYS pure- something very few others can profess. He works hard and does what's right and he's a really great person. We share interests, and parents, and a sister. But that is it. We do not share an unnatural link. In fact, I am arguably closer to my sister- who is 18 months my junior- than I am to him. This has nothing to do with gender, as neither of us tend towards teh typical pursuits of society's expected 'gender' behaviours. That is, I am more interested in sports than he is (though, it's still not much) and no more interested in clothes or hair or purses or shoes than he is. So it isn't a lack of common ground- we have just as much in common, for the most part, as my sister and I do. In fact, more, in some cases, sharing a birthday and age and all.
But seriously, guys, give it a rest. Please stop making movies/books/bulletin board posts about teh AMAZING BOND OF TWINS! There is no amazing bond. Some twins may synchronize their behaviours, but it's no more impressive than girls' menstrual periods synchronizing when they spend too much time together, or husbands and wives completing each others sentences because we know each other so well we already know the next thing each other is going to say. Spending a lot of time together (which is inevitable if you're born on the same day to the same parents) kinda does that to a person.
And no, I do not complete my brothers' sentences. Unless he's fishing for a word and I know it, because I am a WORD WHORE and he stinks at English.
This is not to say that they cannot be incredibly close. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that two people who grew up sharing their entire lives (down to the minute) with one another up until adulthood could be very very close. But, do not expect this to be the case Necessarily.
I speak this from ACTUAL firsthand experience. Not the firsthand experience of having 'witnessed' it or known someone who spoke about it, or whatever. I AM a twin- my twin brother Itamu is great. No, really, he's a good guy. I can count on him for anything- he's probably the most loyal man in the universe and his intentions are ALWAYS pure- something very few others can profess. He works hard and does what's right and he's a really great person. We share interests, and parents, and a sister. But that is it. We do not share an unnatural link. In fact, I am arguably closer to my sister- who is 18 months my junior- than I am to him. This has nothing to do with gender, as neither of us tend towards teh typical pursuits of society's expected 'gender' behaviours. That is, I am more interested in sports than he is (though, it's still not much) and no more interested in clothes or hair or purses or shoes than he is. So it isn't a lack of common ground- we have just as much in common, for the most part, as my sister and I do. In fact, more, in some cases, sharing a birthday and age and all.
But seriously, guys, give it a rest. Please stop making movies/books/bulletin board posts about teh AMAZING BOND OF TWINS! There is no amazing bond. Some twins may synchronize their behaviours, but it's no more impressive than girls' menstrual periods synchronizing when they spend too much time together, or husbands and wives completing each others sentences because we know each other so well we already know the next thing each other is going to say. Spending a lot of time together (which is inevitable if you're born on the same day to the same parents) kinda does that to a person.
And no, I do not complete my brothers' sentences. Unless he's fishing for a word and I know it, because I am a WORD WHORE and he stinks at English.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Breastfeeding Vent
Allright. Now, anybody who knows me will know that I am NOT a breastfeeding Nazi. I do it because it's easy and cheap and really, because I love it and it works for me and Li. I have no problem with people who do not breastfeed- they have their reasons, I'm sure.
Well, I'll scratch that. I have no problem with people not breastfeeding in general. I DO have a problem with people who don't do it, or who have a problem with me doing it, because it's "creepy" and "disgusting". And mostly people who feel this way about doing so in public, and feel like it's okay to spread around that it's "creepy" and "disgusting". Worse yet, some people feel like it's okay to tell people who do it that they find it "creepy" and "disgusting".
WTF people? Tact? Civility? And what the hell is wrong with feeding your child the way nature intended you to? I don't think formula feeding is creepy or disgusting (well, formula is kinda disgusting, but even a lot of people who formula feed think it's disgusting but only in that it smells horrendous and makes for even nastier baby poop. No, really, it does.), but even if I did, I would KEEP IT TO MYSELF. Just because I have an opinion does NOT mean I have to spread it around everywhere like a bad rash.
It seems like nursing in public in particular finds itself at the wrong end of this sort of judgment. I mean, seriously. I think those ear plugs where it looks like there's a gigantic hole in your lobe are creepy and disgusting. Doesn't mean I'm going to go around telling people- and certainly not people who have them! It is their right to do whatever they want to their bodies, and if I don't like to look at it, I just WON'T.
And I guess this isn't even about that. It comes down to that basic desire to bring down other peoples' opinions in favour of our own. We can't just disagree- we have to tear apart, degrade, destroy the other person's opinion. We don't want to hear that the other opinion is just as valid. Like somehow bringing them down makes our personal stance more 'right' and theirs more 'wrong' and acknowledging theirs makes our stance less 'right' and theirs less 'wrong' and that's completely unacceptable.
I'd guess that's where cyber bullying comes from. It's sad, really. We have to gang up on, or just individually rise against and beat down people who don't agree with with us. I say 'we', but really, I strive to be as little like this as possible. It's probably one of my biggest goals in life- to acknowledge, and even understand, the differences in every person- whether they be opinions or choices or anything else.
I have friends who are more creative than I am (hi Doot, PRG). I have friends who are smarter than I am (hello Godwyn, Laura) I have friends who have completely opposite political views to myself (hello Gaaz, at the least) and friends who have different lifestyle choices than I do (hello Diana, and many many others in much more minor ways). And I value these differences greatly. I love learning about them, understanding them, talking to them, debating with them.
What kind of world would this be if we were all the same? I think I'd hate that more than just about anything else this world could be.
Well, I'll scratch that. I have no problem with people not breastfeeding in general. I DO have a problem with people who don't do it, or who have a problem with me doing it, because it's "creepy" and "disgusting". And mostly people who feel this way about doing so in public, and feel like it's okay to spread around that it's "creepy" and "disgusting". Worse yet, some people feel like it's okay to tell people who do it that they find it "creepy" and "disgusting".
WTF people? Tact? Civility? And what the hell is wrong with feeding your child the way nature intended you to? I don't think formula feeding is creepy or disgusting (well, formula is kinda disgusting, but even a lot of people who formula feed think it's disgusting but only in that it smells horrendous and makes for even nastier baby poop. No, really, it does.), but even if I did, I would KEEP IT TO MYSELF. Just because I have an opinion does NOT mean I have to spread it around everywhere like a bad rash.
It seems like nursing in public in particular finds itself at the wrong end of this sort of judgment. I mean, seriously. I think those ear plugs where it looks like there's a gigantic hole in your lobe are creepy and disgusting. Doesn't mean I'm going to go around telling people- and certainly not people who have them! It is their right to do whatever they want to their bodies, and if I don't like to look at it, I just WON'T.
And I guess this isn't even about that. It comes down to that basic desire to bring down other peoples' opinions in favour of our own. We can't just disagree- we have to tear apart, degrade, destroy the other person's opinion. We don't want to hear that the other opinion is just as valid. Like somehow bringing them down makes our personal stance more 'right' and theirs more 'wrong' and acknowledging theirs makes our stance less 'right' and theirs less 'wrong' and that's completely unacceptable.
I'd guess that's where cyber bullying comes from. It's sad, really. We have to gang up on, or just individually rise against and beat down people who don't agree with with us. I say 'we', but really, I strive to be as little like this as possible. It's probably one of my biggest goals in life- to acknowledge, and even understand, the differences in every person- whether they be opinions or choices or anything else.
I have friends who are more creative than I am (hi Doot, PRG). I have friends who are smarter than I am (hello Godwyn, Laura) I have friends who have completely opposite political views to myself (hello Gaaz, at the least) and friends who have different lifestyle choices than I do (hello Diana, and many many others in much more minor ways). And I value these differences greatly. I love learning about them, understanding them, talking to them, debating with them.
What kind of world would this be if we were all the same? I think I'd hate that more than just about anything else this world could be.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Continuing Sagas
So, went to Little Dude's 9 month well baby yesterday. He's leveling out a bit- 50% for weight, 50-75th for height, and still in the 95th for head. Dude has too many braaaaains. Must've been all the ones the zombie baby sucked out of me while I was pregnant. He got two vaccinations- Hep B and their 'prevnar' which is a combo of DTAP, Hib, and IPV I believe. I have a feeling we're going to be in for a small battle at his one year appt- I refuse to let him have more than 2 shots at a time, and they like to give a grand total of 6 at that appt. My pediatrician likes to forget that I've refused/wanted to delay various vaccinations and so I'm sure she'll be wanting to give them all. Too bad he's still only going to get 2. I don't care if we have to go every month for a couple of months- we've been going every week for the past like two months because of ear infections and penicillin allergies and other random shit. I do what has to be done to keep him healthy- an increasingly difficult task.
Why, you might ask, am I so stubborn about the vaccines? It's not the autism thing- I am fairly certain that's bull. It's more a combination of other things- first of all, the chances he's going to be exposed to these viruses RIGHT NOW are very slim. Also, he's little, and shoving all those vaccines into his poor little body all at once can NOT be good for him. And y'know, if he does have a reaction to a vaccine, we're not going to know which of the SIX he had a problem with. So, I like to split them up. And yeah, there are a few that I feel are unnecessary (Flu vaccine, Rotavirus, and he's not going to be getting the Chicken Pox vaccine until Kindergarten- I'd really rather he get the actual virus rather than the vaccine. Better immunity.) I don't know why it's so controversial, though. I mean, I do, but I think it's ridiculous. Parents are so obsessed with forcing their ideas on others, or judging them for their decisions. If you want to vaccinate your child with all 6 at once, that's your prerogative. If you want to risk your child catching these diseases by not vaccinating, that too is your prerogative. Just, please don't bring your unvaccinated child in areas where people who have weakened immune systems (small children, elderly, cancer patients) might be, because that is NOT COOL as they could be carriers and kill someone. And then wouldn't you feel horrible?
Aside from all of that jazz, I've managed to get some work done on my projects. Sewed a couple more rows on Thing 2's quilt, and wrote up the summary for my Steampunk fairytale. Just have to find time to actually START it, but that'll probably be this week, so yay!
Today is cleaning the house in preparation for the babywearing meetup on Monday, hanging out with my parents a little, and my friend Tarpeach whose father is in worsening condition from Cancer. Keep her in your thoughts or prayers, please, guys! She's going through a rough time for sure.
Why, you might ask, am I so stubborn about the vaccines? It's not the autism thing- I am fairly certain that's bull. It's more a combination of other things- first of all, the chances he's going to be exposed to these viruses RIGHT NOW are very slim. Also, he's little, and shoving all those vaccines into his poor little body all at once can NOT be good for him. And y'know, if he does have a reaction to a vaccine, we're not going to know which of the SIX he had a problem with. So, I like to split them up. And yeah, there are a few that I feel are unnecessary (Flu vaccine, Rotavirus, and he's not going to be getting the Chicken Pox vaccine until Kindergarten- I'd really rather he get the actual virus rather than the vaccine. Better immunity.) I don't know why it's so controversial, though. I mean, I do, but I think it's ridiculous. Parents are so obsessed with forcing their ideas on others, or judging them for their decisions. If you want to vaccinate your child with all 6 at once, that's your prerogative. If you want to risk your child catching these diseases by not vaccinating, that too is your prerogative. Just, please don't bring your unvaccinated child in areas where people who have weakened immune systems (small children, elderly, cancer patients) might be, because that is NOT COOL as they could be carriers and kill someone. And then wouldn't you feel horrible?
Aside from all of that jazz, I've managed to get some work done on my projects. Sewed a couple more rows on Thing 2's quilt, and wrote up the summary for my Steampunk fairytale. Just have to find time to actually START it, but that'll probably be this week, so yay!
Today is cleaning the house in preparation for the babywearing meetup on Monday, hanging out with my parents a little, and my friend Tarpeach whose father is in worsening condition from Cancer. Keep her in your thoughts or prayers, please, guys! She's going through a rough time for sure.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Yay it begins!
So, finally going to start kicking this off. I have been meaning to start a blog for months now, but Liam leaves me little time and less energy so it just hasn't been happening. I'm starting to get some of both of those back now, and a little more motivation too, so hopefully I'll be able to keep this up.
Obviously this first entry is going to be lame explanation crap and rambling. Sorry. I promise I have actual intelligent thoughts sometimes too, but there will be plenty of filler entries since I want to try to update daily. XD Several entries will probably be short, though- I'll try to keep it brief when I don't have anything interesting to say. This isn't a diary or a journal, really, after all.
I plan to use this to help me keep track of some of my projects as well. It helps me to feel like I'm 'reporting' to someone, and it'll me feel like I'm making some progress, etc etc.
Right now I have two big things I want to keep track of, but I'm sure I'll be adding to it in the future. I have three quilts in progress for my friend Bacskocky's little boys. Thing 1's quilt has the front sewn, just need to put it on the back and edge and sew. Thing 2's quilt has all the squares cut, and a couple rows of the front sewn together. Need to finish sewing the rows, then sew them all together and then same as Thing 1's. Thing 3's quilt is cut out, but that's it, so need to do all of the above with it.
The other project I'm going to begin is an entry for Steampunk Adventures' contest. We're to write a steampunk version of a Grimm's Fairy Tale, essentially, in 8000 words or less. Because I want to get into the habit of really writing, I'm going to make my goal as close to 8000 as possible, but I'm setting smaller goals to make it easier to force myself to WRITE. I'm aiming for, essentially, 100 words a day, 500 a week (I doubt I'll have any time at all on the weekends, and if I do it'll probably just have to make up for days during the week when I'll doubtless be unable to write), and that should put me around 6000 by the time the contest entry is due (March 1st). Obviously I'll try to write more than that- but this is my minimum. I won't be linking my actual writing here until it's done, but I will try to keep track of my wordcount here.
So, there we are. ^^ First entry teh done- will be starting to write this afternoon during my 'lunch nap' around 12 and hopefully will get the layout done for my Fairy Tale (IE: I really want to get down my basic concept before I forget any of the details) and then hopefully also start the real writing process of it. If not, then I'll do the writing this evening after Shino gets home, more than likely.
Obviously this first entry is going to be lame explanation crap and rambling. Sorry. I promise I have actual intelligent thoughts sometimes too, but there will be plenty of filler entries since I want to try to update daily. XD Several entries will probably be short, though- I'll try to keep it brief when I don't have anything interesting to say. This isn't a diary or a journal, really, after all.
I plan to use this to help me keep track of some of my projects as well. It helps me to feel like I'm 'reporting' to someone, and it'll me feel like I'm making some progress, etc etc.
Right now I have two big things I want to keep track of, but I'm sure I'll be adding to it in the future. I have three quilts in progress for my friend Bacskocky's little boys. Thing 1's quilt has the front sewn, just need to put it on the back and edge and sew. Thing 2's quilt has all the squares cut, and a couple rows of the front sewn together. Need to finish sewing the rows, then sew them all together and then same as Thing 1's. Thing 3's quilt is cut out, but that's it, so need to do all of the above with it.
The other project I'm going to begin is an entry for Steampunk Adventures' contest. We're to write a steampunk version of a Grimm's Fairy Tale, essentially, in 8000 words or less. Because I want to get into the habit of really writing, I'm going to make my goal as close to 8000 as possible, but I'm setting smaller goals to make it easier to force myself to WRITE. I'm aiming for, essentially, 100 words a day, 500 a week (I doubt I'll have any time at all on the weekends, and if I do it'll probably just have to make up for days during the week when I'll doubtless be unable to write), and that should put me around 6000 by the time the contest entry is due (March 1st). Obviously I'll try to write more than that- but this is my minimum. I won't be linking my actual writing here until it's done, but I will try to keep track of my wordcount here.
So, there we are. ^^ First entry teh done- will be starting to write this afternoon during my 'lunch nap' around 12 and hopefully will get the layout done for my Fairy Tale (IE: I really want to get down my basic concept before I forget any of the details) and then hopefully also start the real writing process of it. If not, then I'll do the writing this evening after Shino gets home, more than likely.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
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