First Swing, First Slide

Skeptical at first, W was quickly won over by the charms of the swings. Below, big bro was very helpful in giving pointers prior to W's maiden voyage down the baby slide. In other news, my heart bursts.

Sunday on (and Under) the Brooklyn Bridge

We decided to act like tourists on Sunday and take the boys for their first trip to the Brooklyn Bridge! It was a beautiful day, and we also visited the Brooklyn Flea, which is located underneath the bridge. Here are some of the highlights...

Sakura Bloom Triathlon: The First Sling

Here it is! Sakura Bloom Pure Collection sling in Spice.

It arrived yesterday and I wore it for the first time today. Love!
Meet the other participants here, and read my first post about this experience here.

Me, Solo...Plus Two Little Men

My mother flew home to Mississippi yesterday, after a six-week stay in our apartment in NYC. It was a wonderful visit (I'll post more about it soon) and the time flew by. While she was here mom cooked, cleaned, shopped, did our laundry, not to mention all the bouncing of a couple of babies on her knee! We all loved having her in our home and I don't know how I would have made it through the last month without her, so today was a real moment of truth: my first day alone with both kids while Taro was away at work. I admit I have looked forward to this milestone with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Well, we got off to a strong, early start by leaving home with Taro when he set off for the office. We went straight to the nearest playground, J in his stroller and W in the Didymos. J went for the sandbox and happily occupied himself there for a couple of hours...

while on a nearby bench W snoozed and nursed in the wrap...

It was a beautiful morning and I enjoyed soaking up the warm sunshine, but I'll admit what with all that sleeping and digging, I got a little bored. So I did a mini photoshoot of my new mani-pedi...

It's a new-to-me color (Hardy Water Lily) and brand, Priti, which is all non-toxic!

Anyhoo, then it was on to the swings where I took a couple of cell-phone self-portraits with the kiddos...

Later, we had a nice lunch and were treated to a surprise visit from our old friend, Donisha, who read a couple of books to us...

This was us moments after Donisha left:

After all that fun, we were toast:)

All in all it was a great day, and I am now confident of my ability to manage on my own when outnumbered by children. Whew!

My New Favorite Carry

This is a video I made yesterday to demonstrate a fabulous new-to-me way of wearing the baby in a woven wrap. I love how neat and organized the final look is -- like a cute little package of baby! Another great aspect of this carry is that you can easily adjust the placement of the baby without taking it out of the wrap -- simply untie the ends of the wrap and raise or lower the baby by creating slack or tightening the ends (I find myself utilizing that adjustability aspect for easy breastfeeding on the go!)

Watch, and let me know what you think.

(NOTE: Please excuse the slight cropping of the video on my blog template...I'm a html novice and I couldn't manage to adjust the width of my main column without deleting the right-hand column entirely! To see the best version of the video click through to view it on YouTube and watch full-screen. Meanwhile, let me know if you have any references for a good blog designer, LOL!)

Wrapper's Delight

Over the last couple of years I have become a passionate devotee of the art of babywearing. I have worn my sons on boats, trains, planes, subways, buses, and ferris wheels, and in museums, cathedrals, sports arenas, skyscrapers, farmer's markets, flea markets, and department stores. I have gone to camp, to the beach, and sightseeing while wearing my boys. I have slung my babies while cooking, doing the dishes, blogging, and dancing. I have wrapped them while exercising, public speaking, playing the piano, volunteering, and voting. I have worn my babies while seven months pregnant and while two days postpartum. Babywearing has become an indispensable aspect of my life, and it has added immeasurably to the beautiful relationship I have with my children.

That is why I am beyond thrilled to have been chosen to be one of seven lucky participants in the first official Sakura Bloom Triathlon being hosted over at Adventures in Babywearing! Over the next couple of months I will have the honor of trying out a few of the gorgeous slings made by Sakura Bloom, and I will be blogging about the experience and the "modern art of babywearing" in words, pictures and video here on Marvelous Kiddo. So stay tuned for fun and fabulousity...

I created the photomosaic here, using photos from my set of personal babywearing photos on my Flickr photostream.

Baby Purchase of the Day

I just ordered my first Moby Wrap (in the colorway "Moss")!  I'm so excited!  What carriers do you use with your tiny babies?

The Boys Are Back in Town: An Update

So, I wanted to fill everyone in on the return of my husband and son, after their Florida adventure and my solo staycation.

We were reunited on Sunday afternoon, when they leaped out of a cab into my waiting arms, in front of our building.  I was shocked to see it, but the Kiddo was already older-seeming, with more words at his disposal after only three nights away!  We hugged so tightly, there on the sidewalk.  It was the sweetest reunion ever.

When they left, the Kiddo was still a zealous breastfeeder (at 25 months and counting) and I have been in no hurry to wean him.  This was perhaps the largest hurdle that we expected to face upon parting for so long: would he come unglued without the boobies?  Would Taro be able to provide alternative soothing mechanisms for those times when it seems like only the boobies would do?  What about nighttime?  I have never so much as pumped my breastmilk a single time since the Kiddo was born, so he has never had a bottle or a plastic nipple (he drinks liberally from regular cups and glasses, though, I might add), and well, forget about pacifiers.

In preparation for the trip, and on the advice of Taro's mother, I bought a bottle.  Riki had suggested that for those times when the Kiddo was really missing the breast the artificial nipple might serve as a better substitute than, say, a sippy cup.  Right before the guys left on Thursday, I presented the apple-juice-filled bottle to the Kiddo for the first time.  He took it from me, gave it a quizzical look, took a few swigs, and in an astonished voice announced,

"tiny mammo!!!"

He loved it.  Apparently, between the tiny mammo and the occasional bedtime-stroll-in-the-Maclaren-around-the-hotel, my breasts were not missed.

I had been hearing about this state of affairs all weekend, so I was extremely curious to see what would transpire upon the Kiddo's return home.  Would he be weaned?  I was determined not to bring it up, but planned to wait until nursing was explicitly requested by the Kiddo.

Turns out, I only had to be in suspense for about ten minutes.  That's how long it took for the Kiddo to get the initial welcome-home hugging out of his system before he looked up at me with a sly smile and said,

"mammo!"

At which point I happily sat down and nursed my boy, secretly pleased and relieved not to have given up that beautiful bond quite so soon.

A Mama Milestone

So, something kind of big just happened.

Taro and the Kiddo just left home about a half hour ago.

They're going to Florida for a few days (they'll be back on Sunday).

Tonight will be the first time the Kiddo and I have spent a night apart since he was born 25 months ago.

So it's kind of intense.

Ever since we hatched this plan for a fun father-son getaway a couple of weeks ago, Taro and I have been excited, but also more than a little bit nervous about what the experience would be like for the Kiddo.  Would he be emotionally traumatized?  Would there be crying and wailing and sobs from him as they try to leave me?  

Well. 

Let's just say that after we shared a very sweet and tender and happy "goodbye," the Kiddo leapt into his dad's arms and waved to me as they got into the cab.

I kept it together until the car was out of sight, 

until I was inside our building, 

until I was on and then off the elevator,

until I had turned the key in our lock, 

until the door was closed.

And then I fell to pieces.  

We're talking desperate, hugging-a-pillow sobs.  

I'm not really a crier.  I didn't know I had that in me!

But boy do I miss them already.

Now look who's emotionally traumatized ;)

Quote of the Day

"It is the nature of the child to be dependent, and it is the nature of dependence to be outgrown. Begrudging dependency because it is not independence is like begrudging winter because it is not yet spring. Dependency blossoms into independence in its own time."

--Peggy O'Mara, Editor, Mothering Magazine.  

Quote found via Primal Mommies.

Photo via Rosa Pomar's Flickr.

and then there's this...

Perfection!  Via the wonderful Rosa Pomar.

Excellent Series on Preparing for Baby #2

I'm always discovering great resources and wonderful support on the API Speaks blog, and their recent series of posts on preparing for a second child is no exception.  I thought you might find it interesting, so here are the links:

Part 1:  What on Earth Were We Thinking?

Part 2:  To Tandem or Not To Tandem

Part 3:  Making Room for One More in the Bed

Part 4:  Soon They Are Best Friends

Read it and let me know what you think!  Do you have any insights on the addition of a second baby in an attachment parenting household?

Away We Go

Today, Taro and I went to see Away We Go.  We were really excited about checking out the film because of the amazing writers (Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida) and director (Sam Mendes) notto mention the incredible cast.  However, we must admit that the reason we were most anticipating the movie was that it features our niece, Isabelle Moon Alexander, in her big-screen debut!  

Well, we thoroughly enjoyed the film.  We were completely entertained and touched by the story and characters and are SO SO proud of Isabelle.  There is a reason the Kiddo idolizes his cousin:  SHE ROCKS!

I have to note that one of my favorite parts of the movie involved Maggie Gyllenhaal's portrayal of an over-the-top attachment parent.  I was practically unable to catch my breath I was laughing so hard during the scenes that showed her character zealously tandem-nursing, babywearing, and bedsharing.  Her stroller-forsaking, midwife/doula invoking portrayal was a pitch-perfect caricature of self-righteous new-agey-parenting-gone-wrong.  Knowing that in real life Maggie is an enthusiastic breastfeeding, attachment-oriented mom made her hilarious sendup all the more endearing.  It's always nice to be able to laugh at yourself :)  

Have you seen the movie?  What did you think?

Mayim Bialik on Attachment Parenting

Celebrity Baby Blog just posted a fantastic interview with Mayim Bialik, best known as the star of TV's Blossom.  Mayim is now the proud parent of two children, ages 3 1/2 and 9 months, and in the interview she opens up about her enthusiasm for breastfeeding, bed sharing, babywearing, elimination communication, and homebirth.  Mayim, who now holds a Ph.D in Neuroscience, also talks candidly about her decision not to vaccinate her children, as well as what it is like to balance attachment parenting with getting back into auditioning and working.  A must-read!  Leave me a comment letting me know what you think about Mayim's parenting choices.  I'd love to get your perspective!

Oh NO They DIDN'T!

Consumer Report's list, out April 22, of "Five Things Not to Buy For Your Baby." Including....(drum roll, please)...the following:

Bedside and other co-sleeping devices

"Although sleeping with a baby in an adult bed is a common practice among some cultures, it can be dangerous....Currently, safety standards don’t exist for either co-sleepers or bedside sleepers. Until they do, we think the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib."

Sling carriers

"As slings grow in popularity, so do the number of serious injuries. No safety standards exist for slings. We think you should skip the sling and opt for other types of infant carriers, which have safer track records."

Sad and frustrating news, considering that so many people look to Consumer Reports for making choices based on safety.  It is too bad that people who have little knowledge of the actual data on cosleeping vs. crib sleeping will take this information and avoid sleeping with their babies.  As for the sling carrier scare tactics, I am simply amazed!  Even as researchers raise questions about the degree to which strollers can actually contribute to developmental and language delays, we have the trusted voice of Consumer Reports telling nervous parents that they should "skip the sling."

Read the whole article here.  Then leave a comment on their online thread, or write a letter of complaint.  

Zonked

Just thought I'd share the best Kiddo photo-op of the last week.  This nap happened today at Whole Foods, where the Kiddo likes to eat lunch on Saturdays.  He was actually really hungry, and from his perch in the front of the shopping cart he had pointed out a plethora of things that he wanted to add to our salad bowl (his favorite thing right now is the bowtie pasta with tuna, which he can eat in ungodly amounts).  As we were standing in the snaking checkout line, he started to nod off, and I was trying my darnedest to talk to him and entertain him into alertness.  Needless to say, my efforts were in vain, because as soon as my attention was directed towards the cashier and I was paying for our food he bit the dust.  When I turned around he was arrayed thusly (notice the limp hand still clutching the side of the cart):

It was hilarious looking, but clearly he was comfortable and completely relaxed, because he didn't budge for the better part of an hour, snoozing away even when I propped his face up with the makeshift pillow that was my scarf (which you see in the top photo).  

People were smiling and giggling and commenting the whole time I ate my lunch -- the sleeping Kiddo was quite the attraction!  Finally, after a rather lonely meal all to myself I decided to extract him from the cart and carry him out of the store in the Ergo.  Even then, he didn't flinch, and continued his peaceful snooze until we were well on our way and on to other errands.