I'm just going to pretend the past 4 months never happened...

It hasn't been that long since I blogged, right? Ha ha. It's not like I have a ton of people reading this anyway.

To update really quick: Gideon is thriving. Nursing all the time still though he's finally eating some solids. Still sleeping with us. No vaccinations. No problems with his perfectly intact penis. He's cruising every where and has taken a few steps on his own. He loves to play and snuggle and smile and talk and laugh. He is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to us.



Yes, my house is messy but Gideon is so cute!

On me: I still love nursing Gideon whenever he wants. We've moved to a new city and are loving it. I love being home with Gideon every day. And I can't believe it's been almost a year since I went into labor and gave birth. I keep wondering how I'll feel about that milestone.

I've accepted what happened but I can't seem to stop the "what if" thoughts from creeping into my mind.

I won't promise that I'll be back soon to post more, but I will try! With an aspiring toddler in the house, it's not easy to have two hands to type a post!

Shared sleep

One of the things I researched before Gideon arrived was cosleeping or bedsharing. Most people use the terms interchangeably but cosleeping is having your baby or child in the same room but in a different bed. We bedshare, which means exactly what it says. Gideon sleeps right next to me all night.

The benefits are many if it's done correctly.

• Encourages breastfeeding because nighttime breastfeeding is more convenient.
• The nursing mother gets more sleep since it's easy to sleep while breastfeeding.
• Helps baby fall asleep more easily and stay asleep.
• If you are separated from your baby during the day, it helps you regain closeness.

Dave and I aren't big people so our queen size has always provided ample room for us to stretch out. However, our tiny baby seems to take up way more space than he should. When he was a few months old, we moved our spare bed (twin size) in next to our bed. This way, if Gideon rolled, he'd roll onto that. I actually end up sleeping half on it and half on our bed when Gideon was in the middle (I switch sides several times during the night for breastfeeding.)

But, grandma is coming to visit so she needs the spare bed. We had a crib given to us (a recalled drop side crib) so we just took off the drop side and put it between our bed and the wall. It was a tiny bit higher than our bed so we had to get some 2x4's to raise our bed slightly.

I hope to soon be able to put him in the crib for the first part of the night and pull him next to me when he needs to nurse.

Personally, having Gideon sleep right next to me is one of my favorite things. He nurses easily during the night, he and I both get more sleep and just this morning I was thinking about how wonderful it is to wake up with him snuggled against me.

And, Gideon never has to cry when he wakes up. He stirs and I wake to latch him on. He nurses and we both doze for a few more minutes. When he wakes for the morning, he just opens his eyes and starts cooing or playing with my face. There's never any need for him to cry because Mommy is right there.

The Dr. Sears website has a page on ways to have baby in your bed safely. If these rules are followed, there is no reason baby shouldn't sleep with his or her parents.

I made some diapers!

I used old t-shirts and towels that I washed in RLR to remove soap residue so they are absorbent.

The orange diaper is very absorbent and will be better for nighttime. I put three layers of towels in the center (sandwiched between four layers of soft old t-shirts.)

The gray and blue diaper was made from an old polo of Dave's that was starting to fall apart. I made a separate insert for that so it's less bulky and perfect for daytime use.

The diapers are fastened with a Snappi. I debated putting velcro on them but I think I'll wait for that until I can order the kind specifically made for diapers.

Gideon spends most of the day without a cover- I've discovered that he doesn't pee while he's asleep which makes me feel better while he naps on me. Keeping him coverless means he never sits in a pee soaked diaper and he gets plenty of air so he never gets diaper rash.

I will be making more diapers out of old clothes- hopefully they will last him through potty training!

My version of fried rice

Okay, so this blog isn't all about baby... Thought I'd post a recipe that I came up with to use up all sorts of leftovers and things about to go bad in the fridge. Now, I've never loved fried rice- it's too dry I think. So, I blended risotto and fried rice recipes and came up with something yummy!



The recipe isn't exact because I tend to just throw things in the pot. Use up the leftovers you have- you don't have to add the same things that I did.

I started out crisping about three pieces of bacon in my wok. Remove the bacon to a paper towel when crisp and then add in half a chopped onion (the other half from an earlier meal), a few chopped up stalks of celery and diced carrot (both were in the bottom of the fridge and on the floppy side) and cook for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper and whatever else you want.

Add a couple cups of cooked rice (I mixed leftover brown and white rice that I had) and about half a cup of chicken broth or water. Stir and when the rice has absorbed the liquid, add more. Continue doing this until the consistency is what you like. Then, add in chopped meat (I used leftover chopped turkey) and any quick cooking vegetables like corn or peas. Add the bacon back in and scrambled egg if you want.

I topped mine with crunchy chow mein noodles. I much prefer this to dry fried rice and by adding all the veggies and meat, this is a meal in itself.

Enjoy!

How to carry your baby.

So, wearing Gideon has been great when we are out and about. I don't wear him much at home though I'm thinking about getting a woven wrap and trying out back carries when he's being super clingy. Which seems like every day recently...



This was his first time in the stretchy wrap I made. It was nice when he was tiny because it held him very close, kept him warm and I was able to breastfeed without taking him out. I've used it a few times recently and it's still comfortable but makes me a little too warm.



We got a great deal on an Ergo carrier. It's nice because we can carry him on the front, back or hip. We haven't done a back carry in it yet. We should try that soon! I have not tried to breastfeed while using it though I've read that others have great success in it. Dave is usually the one that uses the Ergo while I opt for my favorite.



This is my favorite carrier for short trips. The ring sling is easily adjustable and comfy for both of us. I ordered it from a shop on Etsy. I chose linen fabric because it's very breathable and strong. Gideon can sleep easily in it because it positions him exactly like I hold him. It's easy to breastfeed while using this carrier as well.



This is our stroller obviously. We got it from a local consignment shop when we sold some stuff there. We use it for walks around the block or along the river. We always bring a carrier as well in case he wants to be held. He doesn't mind the stroller but I feel weird with it sometimes because I can't always see his face and he feels so far away from me! It is nice for walks since it's harder to walk really fast for exercise while wearing a carrier.

There are many more options for baby carriers. Check out Granola Babies for lots of options for ordering online and how to find the carrier for you. There are stretchy wraps, woven wraps, soft structured carriers like the Ergo that buckle or that tie, ring slings or pouches. If you are interested in baby wearing, a quick Internet search will yield hundreds of results!

Look for carriers that position the baby facing in, close to the parents body and in a position that you would naturally carry a baby. Tiny babies should be held upright, against your chest with legs tucked into a frog like position. Always make sure you can see baby's face and that baby's head is supported. Older babies should be in a seated position with their knees above their hips. Allowing their legs to dangle can cause hip problems and it can't be comfortable!

If you go with wrap carriers, there are hundreds of sites about different ways to wrap and carry your baby. YouTube also has lots of videos on how to do it if there are carries that you are unsure of trying. Try it, I know you and your baby will love it!

Cloth diaper pictures!

We've been using cloth exclusively at home for almost 6 months. We love it and I thought I'd post some pictures of our little man wearing the different types.




Prefolds without a cover. Fastened with a Snappi.



Top: A Bummis cover over a prefold. Bottom: Thirsties fab fitted.



Top: Fitted snap diaper. Bottom: Flat, folded and fastened with a Snappi.



Huate Pockets diaper.

There are so many options out there for cloth diapers- this is a very small sample of what's available.

Research based parenting

I'm a researcher. When I'm interested in something, I research it. So, when Dave and I started talking about having a baby, I researched. I discovered charting and bought Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I was able to stop taking hormonal birth control and charted my cycle for 9 months before we got pregnant. I knew when I ovulated, when I was fertile and when my period would begin or when a pregnancy test would be accurate.

About a year before we got pregnant, I stumbled across The Business of Being Born. That opened my eyes to the possibility of having a choice in how I gave birth. I researched slowly then amped up the research when we got the positive test. As you may have seen through this blog, I did A LOT of research about birth. I just did a post about the research I did on circumcision and vaccines. I also have researched attachment parenting, baby carriers, breastfeeding, cloth diapers and newborn care in the hospital.

I did this research by reading and reading and reading and then reading some more. I followed links on blogs and websites. I got a subscription to Mothering magazine. I bought books and checked others out of the library. I lurked on parenting boards of all kinds (and definitely found my favorites.) Beware a lot of parenting boards- the ignorance that permeates them is scary. Now, lots of parents-to-be research but they focus on baby gear. Very few research birth choices, newborn care decisions, vaccines and parenting styles.

The funny thing is, I didn't research cribs because I'd already researched attachment parenting and knew that Gideon would be sleeping with us. I didn't research bottles because I knew that I would be breastfeeding. I didn't research strollers because I knew I would be wearing him most of the time (we did recently buy a stroller secondhand and use it infrequently on walks).

I researched car seats and bought one that would last from newborn to toddler. I'd already researched and knew that using the infant seats as a carrier and baby seat was bad for baby's development (also, recent studies show that it can constrict the airway and experts now recommend babies spend no longer than two hour intervals in the seats- even in the car.)

The best advice I can give to anyone considering or expecting a baby is to research. DO NOT just trust what your doctor, sister, mother or friend says. Even if that friend has 8 kids, it doesn't mean the choices she made will be right for you and your baby. Even if you and your siblings turned out okay doesn't mean your mom made informed choices about how she raised you. And, never forget that you are not the only patient your doctor has. Sadly, you and your baby's health may not be what's driving their advice. Don't forget that a Cesarean birth puts more money in their pockets. Don't forget that circumcision adds money to their pockets.

Any decision you have to make about your baby deserves to be researched. You and your baby deserve to have all the information.

I'll leave you with a picture of Gideon. This kid seriously gets cuter every day! He loves water bottles and is instantly drawn to them so we let him chew on ours every once in awhile.