Little One | Bears and Chickens

I ran across these sweet items and wanted to share. The onesie would make such a lovely gift for a boy or girl, and I can't help but look at that mama bear and her cubs and imagine Seb having such a fun time putting them all together like a little puzzle.

Beso has a great roundup of 9 Indie Kids Boutiques that you should definitely peruse if you have a little time.

The Nightstand, VOLUME TWO

My nursing/reading spot, already well used and well-loved. And Cody has since set up a reading lamp for me!

I finished reading Babies, Breastfeeding, and Bonding, by Ina May Gaskin, and wanted to share my thoughts on the book, as promised. This started out as my favorite book on breastfeeding. I really appreciated that Gaskin wasn’t writing about breastfeeding from the angle of a specific method, but was clearly sharing what, in her experience, works and doesn’t work, as well as challenges a nursing mother can or will face, and ways to overcome them.

Gaskin makes the point that it is traditional for children in non-industrialized countries to be breastfed from birth up to seven years, and rightly so because of a lack of alternative good nutrient sources. I’ve heard many in the U.S. argue, as I’m sure you have, that extended breastfeeding of this kind should be the case for American women and their infants, as well. To my surprise, Gaskin stated that although extended breastfeeding is the norm in other cultures, it need not be the norm in the United States. We have such easy access to all the nutrients we need that our babies need not be dependent on breast milk for nearly as long as other children who have very limited access to nutritious food. She still maintained that a child should be breastfed for no less than one year, and I doubt would be against extended breastfeeding, but it was refreshing to hear her take such an approach to the topic of extended breastfeeding. Lining up well with Gaskin’s statement, most sources that I have read seem to point almost exclusively to extended breastfeeding as a means of continued bonding and closeness with ones child, and that it is nutritionally unnecessary after 2 years.

Once one gets past the great practical advice in the first half of the book, Gaskin’s work starts to show it’s age. Many of the topics she talks about are worthy of time and discussion, but she spends much of these chapters sharing quotes from people whom she had surveyed who were born in the 40’s and 50’s. These opinions and anecdotes are interesting, but tell me nothing about the way our generation views breastfeeding, or how one ought to view it today and always. There is most assuredly nothing of a timeless nature in the latter half of this book. 

One of the reasons I had been eager to read Babies, Breastfeeding, and Bonding, was to gain further insight into the appropriateness of public breastfeeding, further developing my thoughts on the matter, and to understand how some seem to be able to at least pretend that there is nothing sexual about breasts. All that Gaskin really did to shed any light on these subjects was share what others, again, born in the 40’s and 50’s had to say. She, and others, argued that there is simply nothing sexual, or at least nothing inappropriate about bare breasts, particularly when they are exposed for the sole purpose of feeding a baby. I agree that breasts have an incredible functional purpose, one that I thank God for, but I can’t help but be aware of their sexual nature as well. Perhaps it would be more convenient if they weren’t viewed that way, but in 21st century America they are. Although I am in full support of discreet public breastfeeding (and this doesn’t necessitate a cover!), it seems futile to me to pretend, as it seems many would like to, that there is nothing sexual about breasts. My thoughts, which are still forming, is that breastfeeding in public should be just as accepted as bottle feeding in public. When there is no exhibition, but simply a mother providing nourishment to her child, it is something that should be praised by all. 

It was good to read this book, and though the latter half was not what I had hoped it would be, it still enabled me to think through a few aspects of breastfeeding, and form my own opinions a little more concretely. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

P.S. I’ve heard from friends that when they had their second baby, they tended to shed the cover more when they were in public, because they had gotten good at being discreet without it. I’m interested to see what it looks like for me to breastfeed this second little babe of mine. DId you go without a cover more with your second?

And in case you missed it... The Nightstand, VOLUME ONE.

Celebrate | Cake toppers

I think these little cake topper candle holders are so sweet. If you're someone who's not into doing fancy cake decorations, one of these would make such a sweet birthday cake tradition. I love the idea of having a different one for each member of the family.

Seb | A birthday bike

This sweet little man of mine is finally the proud owner of a bike. He is beautifully persistent and patient, enduring many crashes, but with a steady look of determination all the while. He is going to practice all week so he can impress Dada with his biking skills. Thanks, Mamaw and Pawpaw!

Husband | Celebrating early

Cody's birthday isn't for another week and a half, but we decided to celebrate early. We went to the Mellow Mushroom in downtown Durham, and had fun after dinner letting Seb explore the "bawter," and taking advantage of the lovely weather for some family pictures. Husband is now gone for the week, busy from dawn 'til much later than dusk with training for his summer job. We miss him around here, but have Mamaw and Pawpaw to keep us company. Now we're just praying that baby boy stays put until Sunday evening!

Seb | How do I look?

I think it's safe to say that after turning two, Seb's coolness factor has gone up a few notches.

Pregnant | 10 tips for surviving—and dare I say, thriving— during those last few weeks

See tip #2 for why this picture relates at all to this post. Thanks, Katie (and Brian)!

If anyone needs a survival guide, I think it’s extremely pregnant women, so here are a few tips from little ol’ moi.

One.

Stick to those things that made your body feel well and healthy in the second trimester. That means keep drinking water, keep eating healthy, and keep exercising. I’ve failed at this miserably, but it’s still a good idea.

Two. 

Surround yourself with awesome, supportive, and loving friends. Some such marvelous ladies threw me a baby shower last weekend, and it was such a blessing. We talked, we ate, we crafted. A couple days ago I went on a long walk with another friend (you know, trying to walk the baby out in the heat), and yesterday I received some packages in the mail (above) from that very same friend. Good friends definitely help pass the time, and make it sweet. I love that I’ve been reminded daily what amazing people are going to help us raise our boys.

Three.

Make each day such that at the end of it, you thank God that you didn’t have the baby the day before. This is one of my best tips right here, so take note! Keep reading those birth books, keep tackling projects around your house, keep doing those kegels. I tell myself each day that there is a reason that I’m still pregnant, and things I need to be doing besides lying in bed with a newborn. If you spend each day like there is purpose in it, you’ll find yourself forgetting about your extreme discomfort, growing stretch marks, backaches and lack of sleep.

Four.

Sleep. Now we all know that sleep is an elusive concept at the end of pregnancy, so my strategy is to look at it as bootcamp for a soon-to-be-mother-of-a-newborn. When I was at the end of my pregnancy with Seb, I spent a lot of time thinking wistfully about the day soon coming when I would be able to get some rest. Right... So now, when I have to get up to pee or readjust my huge self every hour or two, I just think of it as training for when I have to wake up that often to nurse my little man. I’m going to dominate the night routine, let me tell you.

Five.

Feel free to crank up the air conditioning. It’s only a few weeks of added cooling costs, but if you feel sluggish and miserable because it’s 80 degrees in your home, turn on the AC. I resisted for a while, but it has made such a difference in my ability to cope with being so pregnant. I cut back when I can, but if you can’t, don’t. It’s not worth it.

Six.

If you don’t sleep well at night, take advantage of any amount of drowsiness during the day and try to get a few winks. I take naps every day because I don’t get much sleep at night and find that I rest better if it’s in smaller increments throughout the day and night. The reason I think this is so important is because the majority of women go into labor in the evening. If you haven’t been sleeping well at night, and then you deprive yourself of a nap, those contractions, or sudden breaking of your waters just as you’re about to get some much needed rest will make you want to cry. My water broke with Seb at 1:00 a.m., just as I was falling asleep. It was a long labor, so I went a very very long time without sleep, which made it much more difficult to cope.

Seven.

I have this ridiculous goal for myself. I know that a lot of women could care less if they have shaved their legs or painted their toenails (especially when it’s so difficult to reach them!), but for some reason I do. It makes me feel like I’m ready to go, so you better believe I don’t put off a shower until the next day because it’s late at night and I just don’t feel like drying my hair. There’s not much about your body that you can control at the end of your pregnancy, and if that bothers you, pick a few things that will make you feel better, and commit to doing them. My essentials: razor, Palmer’s body oil, and nail polish. Bam. You’ll feel like a goddess in spite of your swollen ankles.

Eight.

Give into crazy nesting urges. It's exhausting. It's weird. But it's kind of fun, too.

Nine.

Save some of that baby laundry. Of course you need to have some essentials on hand in case the baby makes an early arrival, but save some more unnecessary tasks for those days when you're just waiting waiting waiting.

Ten.

Whether it's through reading, talking with friends who have had babies, talking to your doc or midwife, or simply praying, try to get to a place where you feel at peace about labor and delivery. I went through a patch where I just couldn't think of anything but getting this baby out NOW, and then I went through a patch where I was so freaked out about giving birth that I didn't think I would be able to handle it when my contractions hit, and now, I just feel so good about it. I'm ready. I know what I need to know, my family it taken care of, my refrigerator is full, I have lists on the fridge with household chores, emergency contacts, foods Seb will eat (this is just silly...), and even directions for washing Seb's diapers, in case I have to rush to the Birthing Center right before I get to throw a load in! We. Are. Ready.

And now so are you. Go kick those last weeks of pregnancy in the pants.