Adventures in Babywearing

Boom Boom Pow

2009-07-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

[Boys live here.]

I can not believe that a whole month of summer vacation is already over. And next month school will be starting again. Boom.

I have something going on almost every single day of July. Including BlogHer. Boom.

And in two months this child will be one year old. Pow.

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Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty...

2009-07-02T20:43:00.001-05:00

I was so angry.

I had just gotten Ivy to sleep and the boys woke her up from how loud they were yelling and screaming OUTSIDE.

Scooping her up from my bed, I stormed down the stairs and gave her to Daddy so that I could run back upstairs with a mean mom face to punish the boys with an early bedtime.

All that time spent getting her to sleep, wasted. And when I was done it wasn't like I had time for myself or something fun to do. Nooo. I had a kitchen to clean up and things to put away and the garbage was full and so I let cabinets slam shut and moved about all loudly.

I took so many deep breaths I almost passed out.

Hurrying to get another load of laundry going before Ivy needed me again, my swift motions knocked down a lamp in the doorway and its glass shade broke in a bunch of pieces on the cold basement floor. I got angry about that- now I had to clean THAT up and it wasn't even something I broke on purpose or could have the joy of breaking.

I only had the joy of using my broom for the fiftieth time that day.

I heard the back door close and thought who is out of bed?! I rushed to find out it was just hubby, taking Ivy outside while he practiced his golf swing. He called to me and I huffily responded, What?

He pointed into the yard, where a large mother bunny sat atop the nest that's been there a couple weeks now. She went about her business, cleaning herself, tending to the babies, not minding at all that we were just feet away from her. So we sat and we watched her.

I had heard that the mother bunny secretly keeps an eye on her nest when we're around, but we won't see her. Maybe she knew we were safe. Maybe she saw me keeping the kids from poking lightsabers at the hole. Maybe she saw me checking every morning for fur on the nest, a sign the she had come in the night.

We sat and let the baby crawl and throw golf balls around and we watched the rabbit lay over the nest... I assume she was nursing the babies underneath. She let us observe her so long that soon it was too chilly to stay outside. I still had dishes to wash by hand and four hundred baskets of clothes to fold and put away but I was no longer angry.

We left her to be alone with her family. And went inside to ours.

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Little Foodie

2009-07-02T08:07:00.002-05:00

Ivy likes to eat food. A lot. I don't usually have babies eat so much (apart from breastmilk) this young, but some days she's absolutely ravenous and crawls like a crazychild for the fridge when she sees it open, and she already knows how to get into the snack cabinet. (She's nine and a half months old, people!)

Her favorites so far are blueberries, pasta salad, spaghetti, and cupcakes.
[of course.]

You better give me a cupcake or I oughtta...

She can make some faces, I tell you.

I don't even know what to call this one...

From a blueberry! (Similar to the blackberry incident.) I can't wait to give her a lemon.

[Well, I'll tell you a secret- Ivy actually makes that face even when she's not eating something sour. She just knows it makes us laugh. But I don't let her know I'm on to her.]

Graco gave us this highchair, the awesome Blossom 4-in-1 Seating System a few months ago and offered to give one away here. It's been an incredible blessing and time saver with the easy-removable top tray and amazing wipe-able seats that even berries haven't stained. It also is pretty much part Transformer as you can turn it from highchair to booster and then youth chair.

[side note: of course the fact that it matches my living room and fits in like a piece of furniture and not another in-the-way primary-colored baby gadget is a huge bonus, too.]

If you'd like to win a Blossom 4-in-1 [$179.99!], just leave a comment here. I'll choose a winner sometime after 11:59 pm Monday July 6.

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For Lynda

2009-06-30T00:11:00.007-05:00

Did I ever tell you that she was the first person to show me how to use a sling?

I stopped her at a natural parenting meeting the night I went into labor with Gray. I took my very first sling with me and asked her how to use it. I had already planned another hospital birth, but I knew if I had another baby, it would be a homebirth and Lynda would be my midwife.

The moment I found out I was pregnant with Ivy, I called her immediately. She was the first person I told. Later on I'd change my mind and decide to go with my OB and have the baby in the hospital. But then (as she secretly predicted) I changed my mind back and wanted to have my homebirth. To this day I still think it's one of the best decisions we ever made.

I was so nervous, calling her and asking if she'd take me back. And she said I knew you'd be calling me again. Then I had to break up with my OB.

I listened to everything she told me. During one of my last visits with her, before Ivy was born, she shared her story. Her Story. About how she lived in Texas as a young girl and in highschool had a friend who became pregnant and was sent away. She went to visit her and met the "granny midwives" that would soon teach her everything... and there she attended her first births and caught her first baby.

Ivy was number 1,631.

She was an old-school hippie midwife, which is exactly what I wanted. I felt like no matter what happened, she'd know what to do. She would show the boys all her tools and let them listen through her stethoscope. She showed me how Ivy kept her hand by her face in the womb. And I would hear her laughing about it in my head "she's already a drama queen!" after Ivy was born and she'd sleep with one hand posing on her face.

I am having a hard time understanding how just 9 and a half months ago she was right here in my home, here in my bedroom, guiding me through Ivy's amazing birth. She was alive. She was fine. She appeared to be fine. And just like that, she's gone.

Lynda passed away Monday night.

I see her every time I look at Ivy. It's so hard to truly describe how I felt about Lynda. It's like when you go through a dramatic event in your life and you will always remember who you were with at that moment. You will forever be bonded from sharing that experience. Or something like that.

She was so special, and more than the average special person. She gave so much. She asked for so little in return.

I am so honored and thankful that I had the opportunity to know Lynda. I hope that if you didn't have that chance, that you can feel her touch and hear her laughter and know her now through my words, and through my Ivy or one of the other many lives she put her heart into.

I regret not hearing more of her stories. I only have a small video clip from Ivy's birth, but it's just enough to hear Lynda's voice and see Ivy in her hands...

Everything is just covered in sad. It is such a tremendous loss. She can never be forgotten.

[There was already a fund set up for her, and I know her family could use every little bit, even one dollar. And I understand if you can't because I don't have anything extra to give as things are tighter than tight, but if you feel so moved, you can donate via PayPal, payable to info@indianabirthchoices.com .]

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Quite The Caboose, And My Puppet Voice

2009-06-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Ivy is coasting with one hand these days. I see it in her eyes- that determination to take those first steps but she just isn't ready to let go. I know the feeling.

Here's a taste if you can avoid being distracted by her giant bottom and my awful puppet voice. (Earlier she was cracking up when I made the turtle sneeze and then I tried again on camera and it was just not happening.)

Ivy Coasting from Stephanie Precourt on Vimeo.

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And just like that I locked my baby in the car.

2009-06-29T00:13:00.002-05:00

Ka-thunk.

That's the sound the door made as it closed and locked Ivy in the car, sleeping soundly in her carseat. My purse and keys and iPhone right next to her.

It's also the sound of my heart dropping through my legs and out my toes and although this happened a couple days ago, I am still a little shaky. I can't believe I am sharing it here. I am embarrassed and ashamed and still feel the worst kind of awful that I let it happen at all.

I was in the grocery store parking lot and things were going well- I even remembered my list! And, like always, I put on the Ergo before getting Ivy out of her seat. But while I do that I put my purse down and have a habit of locking the car just before I put Ivy in the sling. This day, the car next to me was trying to leave and so I tried to move the door to keep it out of their way, but then it just closed completely.

I immediately knew what had happened and tried the handle. Locked.

I turned and tapped frantically on the windows of the car next to me. I need to use your cell phone! I've locked my baby in the car. Thank GOD every person in this country has a cell phone.

The couple in the car were SO NICE and helped me call Jeff and arrange for him to unlock the car (we live only about 5 minutes away.) In the meantime, they insisted on waiting until he arrived and the guy also ran inside the store to see if they had wire coat hangers just in case.

I stood by her door, praising God for our tinted windows and that it wasn't as hot as it had been earlier in the week. Still, it was in the 70's with the sun shining bright. She slept there in her seat, unaware. And I could not get to her.

I was sick with regret and shame and tried to keep myself together. How could I let this happen?

Jeff was there quickly- she was inside about 15 minutes total but when I opened the door her face was flushed and her head was quite sweaty. If I knew it would have taken even one minute more, I would have called 911.

I urge you to do the same. Because like I said, it was a nice day, not too hot, but that car heated up so fast.

I still am replaying it through my head and can't figure out why it made me feel like all the blood had been drained from my body. I am so thankful that everything is ok and to some I am probably freaking out way too much. I could have broken a window if I needed to, I could have gotten to her sooner by damaging the car (which I would have done) but it was still traumatic.

I felt like a bad parent, to tell you the truth.

I felt like I would be setting myself up for judgment by whoever finds out about this.

You who read my words here every day know how much I love my children. I'm careful and cautious and loving and aware. But these things still could happen no matter how much you love them. Accidents happen. Close calls happen.

I felt judged while I stood there next to my car, helpless, waiting for the key. I just did what I could do, I did my best for that moment, even though I was in my worst.

She slept through it all, and will not remember this.

I wish I could say the same for myself. Heart, beat normal again soon, please?

Ka-thunk.

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The Boys & Ivy

2009-06-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

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What To Do If Your Child Swallows A Penny

2009-06-27T06:42:00.001-05:00

Oh dear.

I am actually surprised we've made it this far with four kids and the oldest being eight- and none of them has swallowed something not meant to be swallowed. Until Monday.

The boys had just been put to bed and I heard a little coughing from Gray. Soon he was out of his bed asking for some water because his throat hurt a little because a penny went down into my tummy, Mommy.

I got all shaky and gave him a cup of water, quizzing him- are you sure? Was it only a penny? How many? Just one. Okay. Only one? Only one. Okay.

I almost twittered about it but wasn't sure I was up for the judgment or being scared into rushing to the ER. So like most good parents (nervous laugh heheheh), I went straight to Google. (There's actually a pretty good chance that someone reading this right now found me by googling the same thing. Hi!)

It was a relief to find that this is quite common (I even think I swallowed a coin when I was little. My Uncle Randy swallowed a HAT PIN when he was little and my Mom ate glass, or drank gasoline, or both.)

I even came upon an old blogging acquaintance's post about this very thing. And it made me feel much better. Further googling and scouring of doctor's suggestions on the matter left me eager for a little bit of a treasure hunt in Gray's pull-up for days to come. (Oh, and yes he's still in pull-ups but that's for another post.)

Of course I watched his every movement and facial expression and skin color closely and made sure he didn't show any signs of acting stranger than he already does. The next couple days he was fine and went fine with no signs of the penny. I thought that if within four or five days it hadn't come out that I would take him to the doctor, just in case.

On Thursday I was getting anxious about it and remembered a hilarious story some friends told me about Fiber One bars and what they have been known do to the digestive system... so for one last try I bought a box.

We got home and I gave him the yummy treat- he didn't need much convincing because it was chocolate- and he ate it up.

Later that day I smelled its success and was excited to see the results. I'll spare you the unpleasant details but let's just say that we hit the jackpot. There was the penny. Right next to ANOTHER PENNY.

Those Fiber One Bars really paid off.

We're in the trenches of getting a very strong-willed child to go on the potty consistently and the past few days he's now even more excited to go on the potty because every time he thinks he'll find more pennies!

Those Fiber One Bars are really paying off...

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Near, Far

2009-06-26T07:57:00.003-05:00

I chickened out and couldn't leave her in the nursery at church this week. Again.

I just can't do it.

She belongs with me.
For now.

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it's so hawt

2009-06-25T09:08:00.003-05:00

It's so hot here that my camera keeps fogging up when I try to take pictures at the park!

So we're staying cool on the merry go round.

You know my first sling maker Kim of KimzKreations? Well, she makes beautiful solarveil slings perfect for summer and water. The solarveil offers up some protection from the sun and is also very lightweight on a hot summer day.

She sent me a new one in pink for Ivy just because and it's already on loan for a friend to try out at the beach, so I didn't get a photo in it yet (but you can see me wearing my black one she gave me, also out on loan, here with Gray.)

Kim's such a giver (like me, apparently!) and she wants to make one for you using a pair of very special rings she has, and you can choose from several fabric colors if you win.

Just leave a comment here if you'd like to win! I'll choose one winner at random sometime after 11:59 pm Monday June 29.

Contest has ended. Congrats to The Thatcher Family!

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Mind Reader

2009-06-24T07:43:00.003-05:00

Gray asked, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Mommy?" and I said I don't know. What are you thinking?

And he said, "What you're thinking."

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All Around Her Things Bloom Nonstop

2009-06-23T16:13:00.001-05:00

In the great green room there was a telephone, and a red balloon...

I laid on my bed reading Goodnight Moon to Gray over and over while he jumped on my back, paused to help me say "hush" and then jumped on my back again.

In between pages Carter ran through the room in his underwear, then did a little dance out the door. Noah entertained the baby on the floor and I blinked snapshots with my eyes. Carter's Vaudeville act blink. Gray's love for this story blink.

Remember this.

I'm guilty of thinking fondly of who I used to be and who I will someday be but who I am now? She is forgotten, un-lovely, and in need of quite a bit of maintenance.

But she is special and she is useful and she is something to remember.

She is a Gatherer: Moonlight, Found Wishes, Moments of Gratitude.*

This is my life right now, where I am. Today, not tomorrow, not yesterday.

Who I am blink.

*Title and words from a journal Beth gave to me.

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Oh, Sandy

2009-06-22T23:04:00.002-05:00

Just the day leading up to me finally editing and posting these photos is a post in itself.

Maybe tomorrow.

For now, the beach.

[Carter in his too small swim shorts.]

[Many hands...]

[Grayson behaving quite perfectly in the sand makes me want to bring the entire beach home with us. ]

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Babywearing At The Beach

2009-06-21T22:10:00.006-05:00

It was Ivy's first trip to the beach.

Oh, what a great day we had. I have so many more photos to post but I'll have to get to them tomorrow.

I did choose my favorite caption(s) and there's still time to enter the Tiny Prints contest here as well.

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Bring It On!

2009-06-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

[This just makes me grin from ear to ear. Thought it was very fitting to republish today]:

Yesterday hubby emailed me:

I already love Ivy enough to do this...

Originally posted October 2, 2008.

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When there's nothing to see, you can see everything.

2009-06-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

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Whaddya Call The Name Of This Outfit?

2009-06-18T19:06:00.015-05:00

He said he wishes he could marry her, and oh how his heart just wants to burst because she is so beautiful.

He's helpful and polite and every time I look into his eyes I see a miracle.

I said "good smiles at the camera!" and this is what I got.

There we go. Sorta.

Oh, and this one... help me caption it!

Ok, I have a couple that were my faves from your comments:

Laura's "The princess & her peas."

and

Sky's "1, 2 , 3, 4 tell me that you love me more" (I love Feist!)

Additionally, if you would like to be entered to win $50 to Tiny Prints: 1.) become a fan of one of the awesome Tiny Prints Facebook pages- like my fave, their eco-friendly cards page- & post a comment on their wall with your favorite Tiny Prints product and 2.) let me know in your comment here that you did!

Caption winner is not required to enter the Tiny Prints contest. That's just added for fun!

[Tiny Prints is fully sponsoring my trip to BlogHer this summer, so send them some love! Also, the Tiny Prints/Facebook contest ends July 10.]

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This isn't what I sat down to write.

2009-06-17T08:25:00.008-05:00

I found a photo of Ivy that I had never posted from a photo shoot in the spring and it's just the cutest thing and I can't get my scanner to work. The error screen keeps flashing at me. It's so annoying.

Our days have been full. Waking much too early and heads hitting the pillow very late. We go to the park almost every day. Yesterday we were the only ones there. I spread out a blanket and we looked for four leaf clovers and ate graham crackers. Ivy went down all the slides (with Noah at the bottom to catch) and I even went down one with her. Carter got his football stuck in a tree. I later dug a piece of that football out of Ivy's mouth.

Today I promised to take them to a park we pass on the way to our regular playground and they always beg to go to but it's super crowded and has a lot of blind spots.

I realized yesterday that I am that Mom that tells the kids not to yell at the park. And no running! (at the park.) And be careful this and watch out that.

I'm working on it, because, for real, kids should be able to be loud and run and act like wild animals outside.

And so we're going to the park today where I might not be able to see them everysinglesecond and they might run and shout and who wants a Mother who's a constant error message? She's so annoying.

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Project Dresses For Ivy

2009-06-15T23:42:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago I did a big closet purging of all the clothes I don't wear anymore and will never wear again. I freecycled a ton.

I am a sentimental person, especially when it comes to clothes. The kids each have their own bin filled with things I could never part with. I have a few of my own, too.

So I had this idea to re-purpose some of my old t-shirts that I loved...

[The t-shirt I got when we went to Disneyland, as part of Noah's Make-A-Wish trip. The Ralph Lauren pink pony tee that everyone had and I just had to have one, too- a birthday present from like six years ago? An Old Navy tank top that I just liked the cool design. And the colorful Paul Frank tank I bought in Estes Park, Colorado. ]

My blog friend Kim (Prairie Mama) had sent Ivy one of her darling pillowcase dresses that she makes and sells on etsy. I told her my idea but my lack of sewing skills- to fashion my old tees into dresses for Ivy. She was in.

I mailed them off and today they came...

[my Gram's jar of buttons]

[Come on in]

[P.S. Today Ivy LaRue turned nine months old.]

Photos by me but edited by Beth.

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Like China In My Bull Shop

2009-06-15T11:50:00.005-05:00

There's been a slight delay in the delivery of my new fridge (the Gallery that I get to test drive and keep from Frigidaire.)

I can't say I mind the late arrival, as I've been dreading the removal of our current refrigerator that has been here since we built this house ten years ago. I don't want to imagine what might lie beneath, or behind it. And then comes the task of cleaning off the top and finding a new home for all the ~~random important stuff~~ junk up there.

I'm also nervous about what my other appliances might feel about this new fancy schmancy thing coming to live in our very small and modest kitchen. Will it stick out like a sore thumb? Will they all get along? Will it weep its best-in-class ice & water filtration all over the floor for being sentenced to live in such an unworthy peasant house?

And I have been wondering, since we are keeping our old fridge and putting it in the garage to use as overflow (family of six eats like that family of 19 and counting or whatever their name is this month) : Have you ever gotten a new fridge when your old one still works? How do you transfer over all the food? Do you just do it when it is delivered and the people who install it just wait for you? How long does it take the new fridge to get cold enough?

Tell me, what am I going to find underneath my fridge? And did you ever get a nicer appliance than your others? Did they revolt?

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Drink

2009-06-13T20:13:00.006-05:00

I just nursed Ivy that kind of nurse where her eyes go drowsy like it's the best thing she's ever tasted in her whole entire life.

I love that she will be nine months old tomorrow and still tosses glimpses of a two-week old newborn my way, an appetite insatiable only for me -and the occasional crumb on the floor, limp with security in my arms, pudgy fingers in my long hair.

This is one of my very favorite parts in early motherhood. She takes bites but I will not wean until she is ready. She gets distracted and will crawl away to play and discover.

But she will come back to nourish, to soothe, to comfort.

Us both.

Photo by Beth.

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It Was A Banner Day

2009-06-13T19:44:00.006-05:00

I have no pictures from today, but it deserves to be written down.

We awoke with no plans, other than possibly not getting out of bed at all. Somehow I gained two extra children in the night (not counting Ivy.)

Some had morning baths while I put away laundry. We all ate something different for breakfast and I headed out to the farmer's market with the baby. We picked colored tomatoes and peppers for salsa, and a little box of kiwis. We bought fresh pita bread and hummus. And said hello to a friend. Or two.

Daddy had done all the dishes and was cutting up a watermelon just as we got home. We were invited to an impromptu pizza party with cousins. So we packed the melon and piled in the car. Afterward we called up my grandparents and stopped by for a visit. The boys caught an inch worm in the backyard. (He has now inched out of his jar and is possibly somewhere in my kitchen.)

On the way home we played our own made-up game of Hoop! - we'd try to be the first to spot a basketball hoop. There are a lot of basketball hoops in Northwest Indiana.

At dinner (leftovers from the grill last night) and brownies baking in the oven, Noah smiled and wished out loud I don't want this day to ever end. I don't want this day to ever end.

I have no pictures from today, but I'll see it in their eyes forever.

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This Is The Park Where We Like To Play

2009-06-12T23:13:00.004-05:00

This is the park where we like to play.

Mostly because we're the only ones ever there.

And I can keep an eye on everyone while sitting in one place.
And sip my iced tea.

(For those of you that like to see all of my beautiful, well-behaved children.)

Ivy in white shorts on very wet grass...

means no more white shorts.

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The Babywearing Stash

2009-06-12T10:10:00.003-05:00

To some, this will look like a whole lot of baby carriers. I will be the first to tell you that you don't need this many slings. Just like you don't need that many shoes.

This isn't even all of them- I've got a few more out on loan (another wrap, some structured carriers, ring slings) & I love being able to spread the babywearing love. (Check in with woowoo mama about a wrap loan plan she has in the works- I might have to do something similar with some of my stock of carriers...)

I'll start off with the ones that I use most often on any given day:

Top: Gypsy Mama BaliBaby stretch. This one was sent to me for review from MamaKanga a couple years ago. I just got it out again because I have been bit by the wrap bug and I also think it's great for summer. I will probably mostly wear Ivy on my front in it but want to learn a wrap back carry, too.

Underneath that is my old-school Freehand Baby mei tai that I bought for like $25 from a Mom barter group online a few years ago when we were going to San Diego. It is definitely tied for my very favorite sling of all- for use and sentimental reasons. It's also my hubby's favorite. I wear it almost every day mostly in a back carry while I do dishes or things around the house.

Below that is another FreeHand Baby mei tai, but the new style now owned by TogetherBe. I won this one from An Ordinary Life. I wear it often as a back carry when I don't wear the other mei tai.

And on the bottom is the beautiful organic embroidered Ergo that I received as a review item- it pretty much lives in my car and is used every where I go (mostly in the front carry).

To the right are some carriers that I don't really use but they are nice to have on hand.

Top: brown UpMama ring sling- I do wear this one when it matches my clothes and I like that it has a zipper pouch in the tail- handy. I think I reviewed this one at Mama Speaks.

Below that is a violet hemp silk ring sling from Kimz Kreations. Sent to me as a gift from Kim. I wear this one for more dressier occasions. It's so soft and beautiful.

Next is a green floral ModMum pouch that was in the swag bag at last year's Silicon Valley Moms BlogHer party.

Bottom: organic cotton poppy trim New Native pouch- sent to me as a gift from New Native after I posted about the whole Motrin babywearing thing.

Pictured above is another stack of sometimes used carriers...

Top: black silk Bronwen Handcrafted mei tai that I bought before going to BlissDom. I wear this one when I'm more nicely dressed like for church or going out. I love this one.

Nest Sling in "Ivy" print... named after Ivy. Gift from Ashlee (Nest) at my baby shower. This was what I wore most when Ivy was a newborn.

Serena & Lily Market Sling. So very pretty. I just put Ivy in it again today and she cried when I took her out. She thinks it's pretty, too. This one was a review item from Mama Speaks and I use the sweet box it came in to house all of Ivy's BabyLegs.

Bottom: Black Sleepy Wrap. This one was sent for review a while back when Gray was a baby. I didn't wear it as often as I thought I would have with Ivy.

Oh, and in the first group photo, on the very top, is my first sling ever- a black ring sling from KimzKreations that I bought for $15 when her store was just on eBay almost 4 years ago.

I realized that it didn't make it in the other photos because Ivy was crawling around with it. I had a slight fit of panic last night when I couldn't find it. But it was hanging dry in the laundry room- I do wash my carriers often so they have a fresh smell. (Ring sling tip: put a sock over the rings to protect your washer/dryer).

And so, if I HAD to pare down to just one or two? I'd of course never part with my black ring sling and a mei tai although long outings and shopping trips are so much better in the Ergo. And there's just a really nice feel to a wrap...

Share your stash and link up here! Since the Mister Linky can be fickle, please be sure to leave your link in the comments as well.

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bLink bLink

2009-06-10T18:15:00.000-05:00

We spent most of our morning and early afternoon at the park. Ivy had her first swing ride and I also did some more experimenting with the woven wrap (woowoomama's didymos). This is my make-shift version of the front wrap cross carry... I tied it on too loose and the shoulders are probably wrong but I just kept wrapping and tucking until she felt all secure and in the right spot. And she was very fast asleep.

(Jaymi met us at the park and was kind to snap the pictures!)

I am getting really excited about a little project I put my blog friend Kim (Prairie Mama) to work on. I was simplifying my closet recently and had a few t-shirts that I know I'll never be able to wear again but I just couldn't part with. So I had the idea to make them into outfits for Ivy... I can't wait to see what Kim comes up with! (She's already sent me teaser emails!) I took a before pic and will for sure share the final pieces, with Ivy modeling, of course.

By the way, Kim just had to delete her Twitter account and start a whole new one, so please be sure you are following her now: @prairiemama .

I'm still enjoying the great response to Monday's post about my family size. Another blog friend, Kalee at Un Vie Chic just posted about wanting to start with child #1 and is looking for your tips on how to even begin to plan for that first baby. Could you stop by and encourage her with your tips?

Oh! And very important- I'll plan to do a link up this Friday so that we all can share our babywearing stash- this time around I think I'll just be featuring the carriers that I use right now, but who knows. They're all so pretty I might just photograph them all! Please play along and come back here Friday to link up. (Even if you only have one you really love, we want to see it!)

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