The Big 3-0!

I remember when Brian turned twenty and said he felt old! I laughed at him and then I blinked and suddenly it is his thirtieth birthday!! Hard to believe we've been together for a third of his life! Happy Birthday to my Prince!

Slingin' Saturday-- Down the Garden Path Mei Tai

This week for Slingin' Saturday, I am going to move away from slings and review another popular variety of baby carrier, the mei tai. A big thank you to Jodi at Down the Garden Path for the donation!

Having grown used to wearing Benjamin in a pocket sling, I didn't know what to expect from this type of carrier. I didn't know if I would like it...or if Ben would like it! I used a Snugli when Gavin was a baby and couldn't wear him for long without an aching back. I was afraid that since this looked similar, it would cause the same discomforts. I also thought it might be inconvenient to tie the straps while a crying baby was waiting to be carried.

My mei tai arrived in my mail the day I brought Ben home from the hospital! I had my first opportunity to try it the following week when I needed to give the three older kids a bath. I quickly scanned the directions included with the mei tai and discovered it was quite easy to tie. Benjamin only had to be put down for the first step but the rest of the tying was done with him in arms! Ben was so tiny that there was a lot of extra tie hanging down and I was bothered by the look. (I guess I'm even vain when it comes to by baby carrying look!) I got the idea to tie the straps in a pretty bow instead from another blog!

Jodi hand sews each mei tais she sells, and she does it quickly! After choosing from the available fabrics, she makes the mei tai in 10-14 days! I chose Mary fabric with navy lining and straps. If I get tired of the patterned fabric or it doesn't match what I'm wearing (vanity again!), I can reverse the mei tai and wear it with the navy fabric showing instead.

When Benjamin was several months old, we had a birthday party at our house. Ben was tired and I needed both arms to clean and prepare the food. (Unlike pocket slings which allow you the use of both hands but slightly restricts one shoulder, the mei tai allows you to reach up or our while baby is still securely against your body.) When the guest arrived, he was still content in the carrier and my back was not sore at all. I really liked how I could tuck his legs in comfortably (for him and me) and not having them dangle like they would in a Snugli.

This carrier should really grow with us. It can even be worn on the back as Ben grows and has more body support. I was impressed with the price. This hand-made mei tai with a carrying bag (super convenient!) retails for only $50! For anyone who has priced mei tais, you know this is quite a bargain. If you decide to order, make sure you let Jodi know you heard about her through this review!

The sling giveaway is almost here! Watch for it in February!

What Are You Reading-- New Year Edition

I haven't put this feature on my blog since Benjamin was born. We've been reading as much as ever, but I've just not taken the time to share my list. I figured the new year was a good time to get back into the habit. So without further ado, here is what I'm reading:

The Bible: I'm currently reading through the New Testament starting with Matthew. Brian and I are doing it together to keep each other accountable.

The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot: This is a great book but very meaty so I'm reading just one chapter a day to allow time for absorption.

At Home in North Branch by Arleta Richardson: one of the novels in the Grandma's Attic series

John Billington: Friend of Squanto by Clyde Robert Bulla: This a read-aloud with the kids, a carry-over from our study of the Pilgrims.

Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne: This is also a read-aloud with the kids. We read Milne's first book of poetry this summer, but thought this one was appropriate now that Gavin is six! We read one or two poems at a time.

Now it is your turn! What are you reading? What are you reading to your kids? What are your reading in your personal devotions? What are you reading for fun? What magazine do you pick up in your spare time?

Don't forget to check out the bookshelf in my sidebar where I periodically add some of the best books our family is reading!

Eavesdropping

Gavin and Maddie took care of Benjamin this morning while I fixed breakfast this morning. I overheard this conversation:

Maddie-- "Ben, God has the whole world in His hands. That means he has you in His hands, too!"

Gavin-- "No, God lives right here (pointing to Benjamin's heart) if you love Jesus."

Remembering...

Growing up, we had a tradition that in January, we would make a list of all the things that had happened and things we had done in the previous year. It was a fun time of reflecting on what the Lord had blessed us with in the past 12 months. It also served as a record when we couldn't remember exactly when we took that particular vacation or when someone bought that new car.

Brian and I have continued that tradition in our own family. Along with each item on the list, we try in include the month and/or day it happened.

With the turning of calendar, we have already begun reflecting on 2008. We will include the major (Benjamin's birth!) and the minor (Maddie learned to buckle her car seat). We will list the local (the huge remodel at our city's Walmart) and the national (our newly elected president). We will remember the happy (my brother and his family traveled from across the country to visit for a week) and the sad (Owen broke his arm!). We will recall the milestones (Owen's move into the "big kid" room) and the trivialities (our trip to the beach). We will record births and deaths. We will include firsts (Gavin's first lost tooth) and lasts (Owen weaned).

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

(As an aside, with Brian off from work for the next six weeks, we have lots of family time scheduled. My blogging may get bumped to the bottom of the list for awhile, but I will be updating as often as possible!)

Am I the Only Mom Who... Second Edition

(To read the first edition, click here !)

...loves reading aloud, but wishes Clifford had never been written?!

...uses nursing as an excuse to eat a second helping?

...hasn't dusted in 3 weeks?

...has been tempted to give in and let the kids eat cake for breakfast?

...sends the kids outside so they can run and I can crash?

...loves to inhale the powder scent of Pampers?

...has been tempted to cut my long hair because there is spit up in it yet again?

...wouldn't trade what I do for anything in the world?

Go tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born!

More Christmas Cheer

I love baking-- and Christmas wouldn't be the same without tasty goodies.  Well, that's not true, but I certainly enjoy the treats that come with the season.  With little children (and little time!), I need recipes that are simple and worth the effort.  Last year I found these in an old Family Fun magazine and they were such a hit, we decided on an encore for this years' cookie list.
 

Holiday Pretzel Treats

Preheat oven to 250 degrees (yes, 250). Put a single layer of bite-sized pretzels on a baking pan.  Top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss.

Bake for 5 minutes, or until chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon.

Remove baking pan from the oven and quickly place a red or green plain M & M into the center of each Kiss.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then allow to see for 1 hour in the refrigerator (or eat warm!). 

Creative Christmas

I love that Maddie is old enought to join me when I work on projects now. It's fun to have a little helper that loves to create! We sat down one afternoon recently to tackle an idea I saw in a magazine.

First, I etched a simple design onto a white, unscented candle. (I used an empty lead pencil, but you could use anything with a dull point.) Since it is Christmastime, we decided to make tree and snowflake candles, but you could try other simple shapes.

Next, Maddie used a small paintbrush to color in the design. We used a wet Q-tip to wipe away any paint that went outside the lines.

We let our candles dry for 1-2 hours and voila!

Slingin' Saturday-- Rockin' Baby Pouch

It's time for another Slingin' Saturday! To read my intro on baby wearing, click here!

Thanks to Lisa McDaniel & Natasha Walsh at Rockin’ Baby Sling in Los Angeles for the donation of this week's sling!

When Ben was four weeks old, Brian and I had to attend a funeral. We decided to leave the older kids with my mom, but my little nursling needed to go along. Knowing my casual/trendy slings wouldn't do, I decided to try the classy Rockin' Baby Pouch. The sleek cotton looked dressy but not showy. Unlike the pocket slings I've tried in the past, this pouch required no folding. Baby simply fits inside the pre-shaped pouch opening. Great for babywearing newbies!

The feature I loved the best? The Rockin' Baby Pouch is equipped with a set of zippers behind the shoulder to allow for adjustment depending on size. The S/M sling I have fits those 5'3" to 6' and 120 to 220 pounds. You can also adjust the size according to taste. For example, Ben likes to be held loosely, not pressed tightly against my body so I let out some of the fabric and we were good to go! Best of all, after you adjust, the zippers are covered by a ring of fabric to prevent them from digging into skin or distracting from the look.

I also love that this sling is reversible so if I have a more informal occasion to attend, I easily switch to this more "splashy" print!

Rockin' Baby Pouches retail for $82-- a little on the high end of slings I've seen but expected for the superior quality of the fabric and the added features.

Like this sling? Keep checking back for my sling giveaway in February!