Ah, kids music. It's the genre I love to hate. There are exceptions, of course....there is some good music out there. It seems like so much kids music, though, is inane and/or annoying and/or inappropriate (Kidz Bop, anybody?).
The Musician and I were talking about this the other day. We both like to bounce with our babies to a dance beat, but we really don't want them to learn about brushing their teeth with a bottle of Jack. (Musician, so far my best guess is create a mix of old Newsboys dance hits with some Echoing Green and Code of Ethics -- heh.)
I do like the Wee Sing series; it seems to have lots of classic songs in good, basic arrangements.
However, I've finally found a kids CD that is also music for me. I don't become embarrassed when I find myself singing it in public, and I'm even excited about attending one of the concerts.
The source of this wonderful phenomenon is Coal Train Railroad. It's a CD of jazz for kids, and it was created by some of my fellow East Nashvillians! I heard about this band from The Musician. Honestly, I was too impressed when I first heard some clips of their music online, but I decided to buy the music anyway to support the project.
To my absolute delight, I found Coal Train Railroad to be just what Ian and I needed. The musicians on the album are fantastic, managing to combine jazz, education, and goofy fun into a charming concoction. What was truly impressive to me was the structure of the album, which included Latin jazz, a torch song, a foxtrot, and several other standard jazz forms.
Oh, and I tested in the car today -- the upbeat songs are great at keeping Ian awake, while the slower songs put him right to sleep. Fabulous!
Clearly, I recommend that everyone check out Coal Train Railroad for their munchkins, but I'm sure y'all have some good recommendations for kids' music that won't drive parents up the wall. Let me know in the comments what's on your playlist! Thanks!
P.S. - In case you're wondering, this is not a sponsored post. Just rambling about something I like. :-)
2.26.2010
2.23.2010
Chair Challenge
For Ian's room we went with a backyard theme, with a screen door (good way to keep the cat out) and trees painted onto the walls by grandfathers. The centerpiece of the theme is a giant swing "hanging" from one of the trees, and I love it.
Now that Ian is mobile, I'm a little worried about the ropes that form the sides of the chair. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to cover the ropes somehow so that he can't get caught in them. I might sew some canvas to the chair, or perhaps create a cover that can latch onto the grommets that hold the ropes. Using some sort of mesh might preserve the airy, outdoor feeling of the chair a little better. Another thought is to try knotting more ropes horizontally across the existing ones, creating a net effect and eliminating the slack in the ropes.
I know a lot of you out there are quite crafty and/or engineer-y and/or very experienced with wrangling pets and children. I would love to hear your ideas for making the swing toddler-safe!
2.22.2010
Tech Happy: Cool Stuff Round Up
I love geeky tech stuff. Here are some of my favorite new (to me) developments:
1. Dell Latitude Z. This is a laptop. That charges WIRELESSLY. Yep, you just set this thing down on a pad on your desk, and it starts charging. So cool. Oh, and by the way, it's super, super thin (just over .5 inch) and it can lock or unlock your computer by recognizing your FACE. Yeah, cool stuff.
(Disclaimer: my awesome husband works for Dell and showed me this products. However, he's a printer guy, not a laptop guy. Neither he nor I get any perks for this post.)
2. charity:water's GPS project tracking. For my birthday, I set up a mycharitywater page in lieu of gifts. In 12-18 months, when the well project funded by this money is completed, charity:water will send me GPS coordinates so I can view photos of the project on their website. What a great way to increase emotional investment in these projects!
3. E-readers. I heart e-readers. I received a nook as a gift, and it is delightful. Definitely my guilty pleasure of the moment. I'm hoping to get around to a full review of the nook eventually.
4. Why Cry Baby Analyzer. This device purports to determine in 20 seconds why your baby is crying. I could have used this 11 months ago! No idea if it actually works, but fascinating, nonetheless.
1. Dell Latitude Z. This is a laptop. That charges WIRELESSLY. Yep, you just set this thing down on a pad on your desk, and it starts charging. So cool. Oh, and by the way, it's super, super thin (just over .5 inch) and it can lock or unlock your computer by recognizing your FACE. Yeah, cool stuff.
(Disclaimer: my awesome husband works for Dell and showed me this products. However, he's a printer guy, not a laptop guy. Neither he nor I get any perks for this post.)
2. charity:water's GPS project tracking. For my birthday, I set up a mycharitywater page in lieu of gifts. In 12-18 months, when the well project funded by this money is completed, charity:water will send me GPS coordinates so I can view photos of the project on their website. What a great way to increase emotional investment in these projects!
3. E-readers. I heart e-readers. I received a nook as a gift, and it is delightful. Definitely my guilty pleasure of the moment. I'm hoping to get around to a full review of the nook eventually.
4. Why Cry Baby Analyzer. This device purports to determine in 20 seconds why your baby is crying. I could have used this 11 months ago! No idea if it actually works, but fascinating, nonetheless.
2.20.2010
Finis
Last week I returned the hospital grade breastpump.
[Big exhale]
I am finally, finally done pumping milk for Ian.
No, I didn't make it to the 12-month mark, but I'm proud of how long I did pump. After Christmas I started to realize that it was time. I was mentally and physically ready to stop, but I hated to stop giving Ian my milk while I still had it. I prayed about it, asking God to decrease my supply if it was His will for me to stop. And guess what -- he did! I just had to ask. :-)
I feel like I learned a lot on this 10-month journey. I'm hoping that if I share a few of the highlights (and lowlights) of my experience, someone else in a similar situation might benefit.
Thoughts about nursing:
1. The football hold is awful. Maybe it worked for some of you, but I just didn't have the arm strength. Apparently, though, that is the nursing position they show moms who have had c-sections, because they think the cross-cradle position will be too painful. Cross-cradle worked MUCH better for us, though.
2. I wish I had gone to an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant as soon as I found out Ian wasn't gaining enough weight. I had a very kind "lactation consultant" at my pediatrician's office who helped me during Ian's first visit there. She was great, but after several visits I basically was told that Ian wasn't nursing properly and there was nothing to be done. Once I finally went to the IBCLCs at A Mother's Place, they were able to show me how Ian had a very, very weak suck and help me take steps to fix it. Ian was four or five months old at that time and was no longer interested in nursing; if we had gotten help earlier, we might have been able to continue nursing.
3. I wish I had gone to an IBCLC even after Ian was gaining weight when I had an inkling that nursing still didn't feel right. I didn't think nursing should have been taking 45 minutes to an hour once Ian was 6 weeks old, but I didn't know what else to do since my pediatrician's office seemed to think everything was fine. I think my policy for any future kids is to do a check-up at a lactation clinic no matter how things are going, just to keep things on the right track.
3. I wish I had used a habermann bottle (a.k.a. Medela special needs feeder) when we started supplementing Ian with pumped milk. Yep, they are really expensive, but I think that if we had tried this bottle earlier, Ian might have been able to nurse. Once we did start using the habermann on the recommendation of the lactation clinic, Ian learned to suck the correct way. He went from taking an hour to drink 4 ounces to taking 10 minutes.
Side note about the lactation clinic -- they were incredibly helpful, but I also had to take some of their advice with a grain of salt. A consultant told me that my baby had severe musculo-skeletal issues the first time I went there. Um, no, he's fine. Just stubborn.
I switched to pumping part-time when Ian was two or three weeks old and not gaining enough wait. Eventually he refused to nurse altogether, and I switched to pumping full-time when he was about four months old.
Thoughts about pumping:
1. HOSPITAL PUMP. HOSPITAL PUMP. HOSPITAL PUMP. Yes, I really needed a hospital-grade pump to keep up my supply. A Medela Pump-in-Style was great for pumping part-time, but it really didn't do the job for me when I switched to full-time pumping. The hospital pump also was much gentler on my very damaged (from baby and the other pump) skin.
2. I pampered myself and bought a pretty nursing cover. I was sad that I didn't have a reason to get a fun Bebe au lait cover, and then I realized that it could come in handy while pumping. I finally bought one a couple of months ago, and it made pumping at the airport and in the car much easier (yes, you read that right -- I used an inverter for power and pumped in the car - now that's my idea of fun! [/snark]).
3. I valued my visits to the IBCLCs even after I switched from nursing to pumping. While we waited and hoped that Ian would decide to start nursing again, the kind ladies at A Mother's Place helped me increase my milk supply with herbs and pumping schedule and techniques. Their firm devotion to breastfeeding encouraged me to keep going.
5. I had some other great people to encourage me, as well, and that made a huge difference in my attitude. My husband was amazing while I was pumping, helping out around the house and playing with Ian while I sat in front of the breastpump. My pediatrician was very encouraging as well, urging me to keep pumping while protecting my own sanity. I also was lucky enough to have several friends who had pumped for varying amounts of time, and hearing their stories really helped keep things in perspective (Sarah, Ariana, Katie, Nancy, y'all rock!).
Lest this post sound whiny and regretful, I want to emphasize that I am grateful for my experience in all of this. I am so, so grateful that I had any milk to give my son in the first place, and I am grateful that I was able to pump for so long and receive so much support. Yes, I wish I had been able to nurse my son for 12 months, but I am grateful for what I was given.
[Big exhale]
I am finally, finally done pumping milk for Ian.
No, I didn't make it to the 12-month mark, but I'm proud of how long I did pump. After Christmas I started to realize that it was time. I was mentally and physically ready to stop, but I hated to stop giving Ian my milk while I still had it. I prayed about it, asking God to decrease my supply if it was His will for me to stop. And guess what -- he did! I just had to ask. :-)
I feel like I learned a lot on this 10-month journey. I'm hoping that if I share a few of the highlights (and lowlights) of my experience, someone else in a similar situation might benefit.
Thoughts about nursing:
1. The football hold is awful. Maybe it worked for some of you, but I just didn't have the arm strength. Apparently, though, that is the nursing position they show moms who have had c-sections, because they think the cross-cradle position will be too painful. Cross-cradle worked MUCH better for us, though.
2. I wish I had gone to an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant as soon as I found out Ian wasn't gaining enough weight. I had a very kind "lactation consultant" at my pediatrician's office who helped me during Ian's first visit there. She was great, but after several visits I basically was told that Ian wasn't nursing properly and there was nothing to be done. Once I finally went to the IBCLCs at A Mother's Place, they were able to show me how Ian had a very, very weak suck and help me take steps to fix it. Ian was four or five months old at that time and was no longer interested in nursing; if we had gotten help earlier, we might have been able to continue nursing.
3. I wish I had gone to an IBCLC even after Ian was gaining weight when I had an inkling that nursing still didn't feel right. I didn't think nursing should have been taking 45 minutes to an hour once Ian was 6 weeks old, but I didn't know what else to do since my pediatrician's office seemed to think everything was fine. I think my policy for any future kids is to do a check-up at a lactation clinic no matter how things are going, just to keep things on the right track.
3. I wish I had used a habermann bottle (a.k.a. Medela special needs feeder) when we started supplementing Ian with pumped milk. Yep, they are really expensive, but I think that if we had tried this bottle earlier, Ian might have been able to nurse. Once we did start using the habermann on the recommendation of the lactation clinic, Ian learned to suck the correct way. He went from taking an hour to drink 4 ounces to taking 10 minutes.
Side note about the lactation clinic -- they were incredibly helpful, but I also had to take some of their advice with a grain of salt. A consultant told me that my baby had severe musculo-skeletal issues the first time I went there. Um, no, he's fine. Just stubborn.
I switched to pumping part-time when Ian was two or three weeks old and not gaining enough wait. Eventually he refused to nurse altogether, and I switched to pumping full-time when he was about four months old.
Thoughts about pumping:
1. HOSPITAL PUMP. HOSPITAL PUMP. HOSPITAL PUMP. Yes, I really needed a hospital-grade pump to keep up my supply. A Medela Pump-in-Style was great for pumping part-time, but it really didn't do the job for me when I switched to full-time pumping. The hospital pump also was much gentler on my very damaged (from baby and the other pump) skin.
2. I pampered myself and bought a pretty nursing cover. I was sad that I didn't have a reason to get a fun Bebe au lait cover, and then I realized that it could come in handy while pumping. I finally bought one a couple of months ago, and it made pumping at the airport and in the car much easier (yes, you read that right -- I used an inverter for power and pumped in the car - now that's my idea of fun! [/snark]).
3. I valued my visits to the IBCLCs even after I switched from nursing to pumping. While we waited and hoped that Ian would decide to start nursing again, the kind ladies at A Mother's Place helped me increase my milk supply with herbs and pumping schedule and techniques. Their firm devotion to breastfeeding encouraged me to keep going.
5. I had some other great people to encourage me, as well, and that made a huge difference in my attitude. My husband was amazing while I was pumping, helping out around the house and playing with Ian while I sat in front of the breastpump. My pediatrician was very encouraging as well, urging me to keep pumping while protecting my own sanity. I also was lucky enough to have several friends who had pumped for varying amounts of time, and hearing their stories really helped keep things in perspective (Sarah, Ariana, Katie, Nancy, y'all rock!).
Lest this post sound whiny and regretful, I want to emphasize that I am grateful for my experience in all of this. I am so, so grateful that I had any milk to give my son in the first place, and I am grateful that I was able to pump for so long and receive so much support. Yes, I wish I had been able to nurse my son for 12 months, but I am grateful for what I was given.
2.19.2010
Itty Bitty Business
My friend Nancy, amazing mom of the amazing Itty Bitty Becca, is now a consultant with Usborne books! I am a fan of supporting moms, local businesses, and friends, so I am eager to get the word out about Nancy's new venture.
Usborne has some great books, including That's Not My Kitten, a wonderfully silly book that Ian and I discovered during a trip to see some wonderful friends in Atlanta (Grammy just got that one for Ian!). And of course all of my middle school buddies will remember the classic literature known as Everyone Poops.
If you need some books for your kiddos, be sure to check out Nancy's site at ittybittybooks.info. If you want some books but don't have the budget, you might want to consider hosting a book party to earn free products. Also, for you teachers out there, Nancy can come to your school and show you some of her titles (I bet she might even read to your class!).
Okay, gang, thanks for listening to my shameless friend promotion. As someone who used to be a "mompreneur," I love helping those of you who are still running that race!
Usborne has some great books, including That's Not My Kitten, a wonderfully silly book that Ian and I discovered during a trip to see some wonderful friends in Atlanta (Grammy just got that one for Ian!). And of course all of my middle school buddies will remember the classic literature known as Everyone Poops.
If you need some books for your kiddos, be sure to check out Nancy's site at ittybittybooks.info. If you want some books but don't have the budget, you might want to consider hosting a book party to earn free products. Also, for you teachers out there, Nancy can come to your school and show you some of her titles (I bet she might even read to your class!).
Okay, gang, thanks for listening to my shameless friend promotion. As someone who used to be a "mompreneur," I love helping those of you who are still running that race!
2.09.2010
Bebeh Belleh
A few days after the birth of my son, I lay in bed crying. No, it wasn't from the C-section pain. It wasn't postpartum depression. It wasn't lack of sleep (although that didn't help).
I had just touched my post-pregnancy belly for the first time.
And it was.....squishy.
I never had awesome washboard abs of steel or anything, but my stomach had been decently firm and not too round for most of my adult life. On my list of likes and dislikes concerning my body, it was a steady resident of the "Acceptable" category (unlike my thighs....).
Suddenly I had a tummy that was soft and jiggly and nothing at all like the tummy I remembered. WHOSE BODY WAS THIS?!
Ten months later, that tummy is still with me. I lost my pregnancy weight very quickly thanks to a 9.5-lb baby, breastfeeding, and God's provision. Adding a weekly Zumba class has helped my physical and emotional fitness. I've even started buying pants in a smaller size.
Yet the baby belly remains, threatening to return me to those bigger pants and mocking me with it's squishy, shapeless form.
A dear friend of mine said that one day, a year or so after her son was born, she finally did find some muscle in her tummy again. So I can hope. And do crunches. And complain to y'all.
But in the meantime, I do want to say --
It was totally worth it!
I had just touched my post-pregnancy belly for the first time.
And it was.....squishy.
I never had awesome washboard abs of steel or anything, but my stomach had been decently firm and not too round for most of my adult life. On my list of likes and dislikes concerning my body, it was a steady resident of the "Acceptable" category (unlike my thighs....).
Suddenly I had a tummy that was soft and jiggly and nothing at all like the tummy I remembered. WHOSE BODY WAS THIS?!
Ten months later, that tummy is still with me. I lost my pregnancy weight very quickly thanks to a 9.5-lb baby, breastfeeding, and God's provision. Adding a weekly Zumba class has helped my physical and emotional fitness. I've even started buying pants in a smaller size.
Yet the baby belly remains, threatening to return me to those bigger pants and mocking me with it's squishy, shapeless form.
A dear friend of mine said that one day, a year or so after her son was born, she finally did find some muscle in her tummy again. So I can hope. And do crunches. And complain to y'all.
But in the meantime, I do want to say --
It was totally worth it!
2.01.2010
Snow Moments
I waited for the impending snow storm on Friday with mixed feelings. I was looking forward to the prospect of several inches of snow, but I also hoped it would hold off until Saturday.
Because, um, Old Navy was having a sale. 30% off everything. And yes, I am officially a suburban mom who buys all of her clothes at Old Navy. Shut up.
Once I resigned myself to being homebound for the next few days, I got depressed. Not at the thought of staying home, but at the realization that this wouldn't be much of a change in my routine. On the average day I hang out at home, do housework, and watch Ian. If I got snowed in, I would hang out at home, do housework, and watch Ian. Booooo.
I also had set aside this weekend to do some work on my federal tax return, which is a little complicated since I closed my business last year. Wasn't really looking forward to that, either.
Once the snow started falling, however, I got more into the spirit of things. A lovely visit from Jessica made Friday afternoon quite cheery, and I enjoyed reading the Twitter updates with everyone's #TheSituation2010 experiences. (The Nashvillest ladies are so fabulous for coining that hashtag. Actually, they are just fabulous in general. Go check out their site if you aren't familiar with it.)
I was pretty stressed about getting my taxes done and catching up on some housework, but I resolved that my workaholic tendencies would not ruin the snowfall of the decade for me. On Saturday and Sunday I joined Ian and Paul in our own #TheSituation2010 adventures, sledding down the hill in our side yard.
Ian seemed to enjoy his first snow outing:
Oh, and apparently mommies are required to bake when it snows. I wasn't aware of this phenomenon until Saturday when I started feeling a compulsion to make cookies. My Twitter and Facebook streams were filled with other ladies making donuts, chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate oatmeal cookies. I finally capitulated on Sunday and baked some homemade oreos.
Right now I am enjoying the snow lingering in our yard. This is snowy perfection we hardly see here in Tennessee. Usually the snow here melts within a day or two; this week it is warm enough to melt the snow off the streets but cold enough to keep the landscape coated in white.
Tonight I am thankful to my Creator for the gifts of warm, safety, and grace.
Because, um, Old Navy was having a sale. 30% off everything. And yes, I am officially a suburban mom who buys all of her clothes at Old Navy. Shut up.
Once I resigned myself to being homebound for the next few days, I got depressed. Not at the thought of staying home, but at the realization that this wouldn't be much of a change in my routine. On the average day I hang out at home, do housework, and watch Ian. If I got snowed in, I would hang out at home, do housework, and watch Ian. Booooo.
I also had set aside this weekend to do some work on my federal tax return, which is a little complicated since I closed my business last year. Wasn't really looking forward to that, either.
Once the snow started falling, however, I got more into the spirit of things. A lovely visit from Jessica made Friday afternoon quite cheery, and I enjoyed reading the Twitter updates with everyone's #TheSituation2010 experiences. (The Nashvillest ladies are so fabulous for coining that hashtag. Actually, they are just fabulous in general. Go check out their site if you aren't familiar with it.)
I was pretty stressed about getting my taxes done and catching up on some housework, but I resolved that my workaholic tendencies would not ruin the snowfall of the decade for me. On Saturday and Sunday I joined Ian and Paul in our own #TheSituation2010 adventures, sledding down the hill in our side yard.
Ian seemed to enjoy his first snow outing:
Oh, and apparently mommies are required to bake when it snows. I wasn't aware of this phenomenon until Saturday when I started feeling a compulsion to make cookies. My Twitter and Facebook streams were filled with other ladies making donuts, chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate oatmeal cookies. I finally capitulated on Sunday and baked some homemade oreos.
Right now I am enjoying the snow lingering in our yard. This is snowy perfection we hardly see here in Tennessee. Usually the snow here melts within a day or two; this week it is warm enough to melt the snow off the streets but cold enough to keep the landscape coated in white.
Tonight I am thankful to my Creator for the gifts of warm, safety, and grace.
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