Wearable Art

My Dad and Stepmom are visiting and we are having a fabulous time. I wanted to share this creative tshirt that Evelyn received-- a chalk board shirt! It's even machine washable.

Snapshot: Still four months old

Henry is almost five months old (four more days), but he is still my newborn.

Here comes the sun

Evelyn and I had some much needed quality time today while Henry took a morning nap. It was so wonderful to see her sweet smile and hear her giggle as we played toss, her new favorite game. We also had an impromptu dance party. Later, when Henry woke up, Evelyn surprised us by carrying Daddy's guitar into the family room for a jam session. I was put on tambourine duty. Henry was delighted to chew on the crinkly wing of a toy butterfly and smile at us. I felt awake and clear-headed in a way that I haven't really felt since my second trimester of pregnancy with Henry.

I am so glad that I spoke up about PPD and about the panic attacks I was experiencing. My naturopath, my counselor, my husband, and I were able to come up with a good treatment plan. While some aspects of that plan are unique to my needs-- and therefore personal-- I think that other aspects, like finding high quality support and taking time out of the day for me to recharge, are critical and should be shared.

I know that I'll continue to be tired, like any mother of an infant and a toddler. I will still have days that drag on. But!-- I will also continue to have good days as well and this rediscovered sense of hope and optimism is quenching a thirst I thought was here to stay. If postpartum depression and anxiety had stranded me on a lonely stretch of land, it feels safe to say that I can now see the other side of the lake.

Let's talk diapers

Welcome to the November Carnival of Natural Parenting: What is natural parenting?

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our Carnival coincides with the launch of Natural Parents Network, a community of parents and parents-to-be who practice or are interested in attachment parenting and natural family living. Join us at Natural Parents Network to be informed, empowered, and inspired!

Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

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As a home-birthing, exclusive (and extended and tandem) breastfeeding, co-sleeping, babywearing Mama, I feel like I've earned my chops as a natural, attached parent. To be fair, I try to do what works for my family without fanatical devotion to labels. I do generally gravitate toward all that is organic and I try to make ecologically sound decisions. Cloth diapers, rather than disposable ones, seem to come with the territory. To be perfectly honest, the main reason for using cloth in our family was not directly an ecological one. I was thinking primarily of my baby's comfort and health. Have you felt a cloth diaper? Given the choice between spending the first two or more years of life in a crunchy paper and plastic diaper or a super soft cloth one, I thought my babe would prefer the cloth. I also worried about the chemicals inside the disposable diapers-- you know, the magically absorbent gel? When we do turn to disposables, and we sometimes do, we choose the chlorine-free variety. They still contain a hodgepodge of "ingredients," but I just can't stomach the mainstream ones.

Once we decided on cloth diapers, the big question-- which "system" would we use?-- evolved into a journey of sorts. I asked around, I looked in every eco-chic boutique, and eventually we used good, old-fashioned trial-and-error. During the last trimester of my first pregnancy, I set up delivery with a diaper service. Seventy clean cotton prefolds (the workhorses of the diapering world, if you ask me) arrived weekly. I didn't have to deal with very much diaper laundry. Still, because we used Velcro diaper covers, I needed to do an extra load of wash anyway. The diaper washing turned out to be no big deal. When my daughter hit the six-month mark, we took the plunge and canceled the service.

We bought eight colorful pocket diapers (Bum Genius, to be exact). Those trusty dipes stayed with us for over a year, at which point the velcro tabs began to fray just a bit and the fit became a tad tight. We discovered the one-size Fuzzi Bunz diapers (with snaps!). Today, we're back to the diaper service pre-folds and covers (Thirsty's covers are fantastic) for our four-month-old son. The pocket diapers are in rotation as back-ups. As much as I love the pre-folds for newborns, I didn't have luck with them on my daughter when she became a wiggly infant and later a toddler on the go. We plan to stick with them as long as they're convenient with our son before moving to the pockets full time.

In terms of numbers, we operate with about ten pocket diapers and six diapers covers, though we could use a couple more to stretch out the time between washings to more than two days. The bottom line for our family is that we see cloth diapers as the environmentally sound diaper option, but we've stuck with them because they are actually quite practical and convenient (and they're pretty cute, too!).

***

Stop by Natural Parents Network today to see excerpts from everyone's posts, and please visit a few to read more! Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants. Three of the participants below will instead be featured on Natural Parents Network throughout the month, so check back at NPN!

This list will be updated by afternoon November 9 with all the carnival links. We've arranged it this month according to the categories of our NPN resource pages on "What Is Natural Parenting?"

Attachment/Responsive Parenting

Attachment/responsive parenting is generally considered to include the following (descriptions/lists are not exhaustive; please follow each link to learn more):

1. PREPARE FOR PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND PARENTING:
   
   
   
   • "Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting" — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes knows better now how to prepare for her second baby, focusing on attachment rather than nursery curtains. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 23. (@sheryljesin)
   
   
   • "Begin at the Beginning" — Alison at BluebirdMama examines the first type of natural parenting she experienced: birthing at home. (@BluebirdMama)
   
   
   
   


2. FEED WITH LOVE AND RESPECT:
   
   
   
   • "Going With the {Tandem Milk} Flow" — Despite being told she would never be able to nurse her toddler through pregnancy, Jessika at Job Description: Mommy successfully nursed through her entire pregnancy, and she continues tandem nursing her two little ones fifteen months later! (@JobDescMommy)
   
   
   • "Breastfeeding with Love and Respect" — Resisting the pressure to give up, breastfeeding was the way Dionna at NursingFreedom.org persisted in nourishing her son. (@NursingFreedom)
   
   
   • "Why Should I Call It Extended?" — Amy at Toddler In Tow provides scientifically based research to support child-led weaning.
   
   
   
   


3. RESPOND WITH SENSITIVITY:
   
   
   
   • "Attachment Parenting Chose Us" — For a child who is born "sensitive," attachment parenting is more a way of life than a parenting "choice." Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares her experiences. (@CodeNameMama)
   
   
   • "Parenting in the Present" — Acacia at Be Present Mama parents naturally by being fully present.
   
   
   • "Parenting With Heart" — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment parents naturally because healthy attachments early in life help our little ones grow into healthy, functioning adults.
   
   
   
   


4. USE NURTURING TOUCH:
   
   
   
   • "Nurturing through touch" — Lauren at Hobo Mama finds that loving touch is a thread that runs through all her natural parenting practices. (@Hobo_Mama)
   
   
   
   


5. ENSURE SAFE SLEEP:
   
   
   
   • "Sometimes I Wish We Coslept" — Sheila at A Gift Universe has started to add cosleeping into her sleep routines and has found frequently unspoken benefits. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 30. (@agiftuniverse)
   
   
   
   


6. PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND LOVING CARE:
   
   
   
   • "Attachment Parenting . . . and Nanny Makes Three?" — When Jen at Grow with Graces first started interviewing nannies, she was looking for practicalities. After a few months with her first nanny, she's going to hire someone new, and this time, she'll make sure the nanny believes in AP principles. (@growwithgraces)
   
   
   • "Do You Have This?" — For Rachael at The Variegated Life, natural parenting is about love and giving, rather than the alienation and longing present in so many in our Western culture. (@RachaelNevins)
   
   
   • "What Natural Parenting Looks Like in Our Family" — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker shares what natural parenting is like as your little ones grow up.
   
   
   
   


7. PRACTICE GENTLE/POSITIVE DISCIPLINE:
   
   
   
   • "Unconditional Parenting" — The philosophy of Alfie Kohn resonates with Erin at Multiple Musings, who does not want to parent (or teach) using rewards and punishment. (@ErinLittle)
   
   
   
   


8. STRIVE FOR BALANCE IN PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE:
   
   
   
   • "Reducing Screen Time" — How does Mrs. H. at Fleeting Moments meaningfully connect with her kids every day? She turns off the TV.
   
   
   • Also see our October Carnival all about finding balance!
   
   
   
   

Ecological Responsibility and Love of Nature

• "Healing Through Elimination Communication Part 1" — Amy at Innate Parenting explains how practicing elimination communication has helped her whole family gain awareness and healing in many areas of their lives. (@InnateWholeness)


• "Growing Out of Little Potties" — Stacy at Mama-Om is proud to be the "weird lady" who practices elimination communication with her babies. (@mama_om)


• "Let's Talk Diapers" — Lindsey at Mama Cum Laude started using cloth diapers because she felt they were a safer choice for her child; she stuck with them because they are convenient.

Holistic Health Practices

• "Supporting Natural Immunity" — If you have decided against the traditional vaccination schedule, Starr at Earth Mama has some helpful tips for strengthening your children's immune systems naturally.

Natural Learning

• "Acceptance as a Key to Natural Parenting" — Because Mrs. Green at Little Green Blog values accepting and responding to her daughter's needs, she was able to unravel the mystery of her daughter's learning "challenges." (@myzerowaste)


• "Let Them Look" — Betsy at Honest 2 Betsy makes time to look at, to touch, and to drool on the pinecones.


• "Why I Love Unschooling" — Unschooling isn't just about learning for Darcel at The Mahogany Way — it is a way of life. (@MahoganyWayMama)


• "Is He Already Behind?"Ever worry that your baby or toddler is behind the curve? Danielle at born.in.japan will reassure you about the many ways your little one is learning — naturally — every day. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 16. (@borninjp)


• "How to Help Your Child through Natural Learning" — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now offers tips on how to understand and nurture your child's natural learning style. (@DebChitwood)

Healthy Living

• "What 'Healthy Eating' Means to Me" — Wonder how a family of five makes healthy eating a priority? Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings shares some common sense tips. (@sunfrog)


• "What is Natural Parenting? Embracing Real Food" — Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! has always wanted to give her children the most nutritious foods possible: first through breastfeeding, and later through healthy, whole foods. (@bfmom)

Parenting Philosophies

• "Natural Parenting — Lazy Parenting" — To Olivia at Write About Birth, natural parenting isn't about a fixed set of ideals, but about what is instinctual. (@writeaboutbirth)


• "I'm not the most crunchy, but I'm still au naturel" — Jessica at This is Worthwhile follows her gut and parents with respect, and that's what feels natural to her. (@tisworthwhile)


• "Because Natural comes Naturally" — Breastfeeding, babywearing, cosleeping — Bess at mommakesmilk does these things because they feel right. (@MumtoEve)


• "What Do You Mean 'Natural Parenting'?" — Luschka at Diary of a First Child fell into natural parenting by listening to her baby and her own instincts. (@lvano)


• "One Little Change at a Time" — Ashley at Domestic Chaos made one small change at a time until "natural parenting" wasn't a punchline, but a way of life. (@ashleympoland)


• "WHY Attachment Parenting?" — While they might take some work to put into practice, Momma Jorje at A Slightly Crunchy Momma finds that all of the tenets of attachment parenting fit her family.


• "Yours, Respectfully" — For Kellie at Our Mindful Life, natural parenting is about being respectful: to yourself, your children, and your surroundings.


• "The Natural Parenting Label" — Michelle at The Parent Vortex explains that natural parenting is a mindset, not a set of specific choices or a few fancy acronyms. (@TheParentVortex)


• "When Our Children Are Grown" — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children parents naturally, because she is building a firm foundation for her children.


• "What is Natural Parenting to a Witch Mom?" — Lily at Witch Mom has planned out what she wants for her son, from health to socialization to interactions with the natural world. (@lilyshahar)


• "Attachment Parenting and Our Family" — Semi-crunchy Mama at Adventures in Mommyhood takes us through the way the Baby Bs have transformed their family of four. (@crunchymamato2)


• "I'm a Mama...Naturally" — Andrea!!! at Ella-Bean & Co. didn't intend to parent naturally, but it happened by instinct.

Political and Social Activism

• "A Private Matter" — Amy at Anktangle, who is a Registered Nurse, describes her encounters with circumcision in a medical environment and why they guided her decision to leave her own baby boy intact. (@anktangle)


• "Natural Parenting, Following Our Instincts, and Keeping Our Son Intact" — Kelly at KellyNaturally went against the tide and refused to circumcise her son. (@kellynaturally)


• "Relying on Kindness" — Sure, Navelgazing Bajan at Navelgazing wants her son to be kind — but kindness is not enough. (@BlkWmnDoBF)

A calm morning

We were about fifteen minutes away from heading out the door for our Toddler Group when Evelyn said she'd really like to rest today. It is not like Evelyn to turn down an opportunity to play with other kids, and though she doesn't have a cough or a fever, her nose is runny and she seems a little sleepy. I was actually a little relieved that Evelyn made the call for me. Chris and I had been going back and forth about whether or not Henry was too sleepy to go. He is still getting over his congestion and, while he would be in carrier at the Toddler Group and not touching anything, he'd probably be unhappy. He just wants to nap in the big bed next to Mama or nurse. It's too bad. Chris had gotten both kids dressed and I was just drying my hair-- we were slated to be on time for once. Still, I think Henry and Evelyn alike will appreciate a calm, relaxed morning and I hope that it will situate us for a nice afternoon together. Neither child has had any fever, so it just seems as though they've run into a cold somewhere and need some extra rest.

Last night, I ordered groceries online for the first time. I'm looking forward to their delivery this morning. I've heard very good things about the grocery delivery; if this works out well, we might very well have a new time saver on our hands. To be fair, we'll probably still make little trips here and there to the store down the hill because it's close and it's kind of a nice outing when Evelyn gets a little stir-crazy because it isn't too much of a drive for Henry. Oh, and they have great lattes and gluten-free treats, too!

Alphabet fun

Evelyn has been interested in typing and writing "words" lately. She's caught on that certain letters make certain sounds and so she sounds out her words as she writes. Right now, "Evelyn" comes out more like "Evxy67" but she's got the idea! For his part, Henry is now very interested in books. Actually, papers of any kind will hold his attention. He likes to grab and the hold the pages as we read and, of course, he enjoys tasting the pages as well.

Evelyn says, "We're twins!"

These coordinating outfits were a gift from a friend. Aren't they fabulous?