The Baby Head Diaries

DISCOUNT CODES GALORE!!!

2011-09-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

We all like prettiness and we all love a good deal, well here you go my friends:

SOURCE: http://6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com/2011/09/create-it-girl-review.html

Use the code Kirsten10 to get 10% off.

SOURCE: http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2011/09/sponsor-love-giveaway-blondies-shop.html

20% off every order at Blondie's Shop! Just enter HISUGARPLUM as your promo code.

Adorable Children's Clothes

Source: http://sheheartsit.com/handmade/curiousgeorgia/

Use SHIPS4FREE code for FREE SHIPPING on your purchase.

Vintage Children's Clothes

SOURCE: http://www.mamalovespapa.com/2011/09/guest-post-manda-from-once-upon-my-life.html

Use code MAMALOVESPAPA20 - to get 20% off your order

Cute Children's Items

SOURCE: http://rebekahgough.blogspot.com/2011/09/surprise-party-giveaway-30-gift.html

20% off to all a bit of sunshine readers with the code: ABITOFSUNSHINE!! Awesome Children's Wear
SOURCE: http://rebekahgough.blogspot.com/2011/09/surprise-party-giveaway-40-gift.html
20% off to all a bit of sunshine readers with the code: SUNSHINESEP11
Jewelry for a Good Cause
SOURCE: http://laviepetite.blogspot.com/2011/09/very-shiney-giveaway.html
15% discount on her necklaces to all La Vie Petite readers. Use the code Petite15

Parenting/Education Tip of the Day

2011-09-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

Parenting/Education Tip of the Day:

Be an active participant in your child's educational life by looking for your State/Local Learning Standards for both your child's current grade and their next grade in order to ensure your child is at level and to supplement school teachings with above level concepts!

To find your state's standards you can go to Education World's State Standards

2011-09-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I am running my first ever Giveaway!!! It will be running simultaneously on both ofmy blogs, The Baby Head Diaries and Cre8tive Rookie.

Now that the days are getting shorter,darker, and colder I know that the urge to hunker down in the house will be overwhelming,but I've resolved to tone up, keep fit, and run a 5K this fall. To help others stay or become motivatedduring these autumn days I am giving away Shaklee Cinch® Vanilla Shake Mix (14 packets) and a bottle of NutriFeron(60 count).

Giveaway Prize Descriptions:

Cinch® Vanilla Shake Mix, Packets- Size: 14Packets

A vanilla shake that is anything but plainvanilla. With tons of protein so you feel full. Leucine so you don't losemuscle. And a creamy flavor so you don't lose your will. You get all thebenefits of a meal. Except it tastes like dessert.

Retail Price: $59.95 MemberPrice: $50.95 – TOPURCHASE

NutriFeron is apatented, clinically proven blend of immune-strengthening plant extracts. Whenused daily, it increases the production of your body’s natural interferon, acritical activator of the immune system. NutriFeron works at the cellularlevel, by rapidly activating your immune system’s defenses*

Retail Price:$45.90 Member Price: $39.00 – TO PURCHASE

Okay, on to the good stuff! Toenter comment to this post with the words: FALL INTO FITNESS!

For extra entries:

(1 Extra Entry) Follow Baby Head Diaryand/or Cre8tive Rookie (each follow is an entry, use a separate comment foreach entry).

(5 Extra Entries) Tweet/FB Status/Blog this Giveaway -5 for each method (put the link to your tweet, FB Status, or Post in the comment section)

(10 Extra Entries) For TEN (10!!!) extra entries become a Shaklee Member for only $19.99!!!

Become a Shaklee Member and get a 15% discount on all products, all the time! Plus, as a Shaklee Member you will receive special promotions and offers, and can sign up for AutoShip for even more savings. Don't forget, you also have an unconditional money-back guarantee and you'll have exclusive access to our Shaklee Member Center. When you pay the regular $19.95 membership fee you receive a beautiful New Member Pack containing informative communications pieces and product samples.

CONTEST DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS 26 SEPTEMBER 2011 at 6:00 PM EST

To learn more about Shaklee visit: http://willwellness.myshaklee.com

Wordless Wednesdays

2011-09-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

Source: dailylearners.com via Kenesha on Pinterest

Wordless Wednesdays

2011-08-31T11:23:00.000-07:00

Artists at Work!

What's Up Wednesday

2011-08-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

I've started working on making some positive changes in my life by focusing on the person I want to be and part of that is the 30 Day Mom Challenge and my own As If Project. So, this post is to show what I've accomplished so far this week.

#1 - I did the mom challenge and asked my son what is one thing he wanted us to do this month and he said he'd like to go to the museum. I asked him if he wanted to go to the Children's Museum in Baltimore and he told me, "No, I want to go to a REAL museum." So, we'll be heading out to the Air & Space Museum in DC this weekend! I'm so glad that I get to fulfill a wish of his. So many times we get caught up in doing things for our children that we think that they should be doing without even asking them what they'd like to do. Asking your child their opinion, listening, and actually following through gives your child a wonderful sense of importance. Who doesn't like it when someone listens to them and tries to make their dreams come true!

#2 - I organized my pantry. I should have taken a before and after shot, but I didn't. Just trust me that it was a MESS! I found 6 rolls of paper towels that I didn't even know I had. I also decided to do something with the food items I've bought that no one in the house wants to eat. I made a breakfast treat basket that I will be bringing in to my office filled with granola bars, breakfast bars, and other morning goodies that we decided to pass on in our home.

#3 - I'm making strides to get my financial house in order. I rejoined Mint.com so I can see where my money is going and operate under a budget. It's scary when you see how much of your money you actually throw away on things you don't need. I also ordered all three of my credit reports as well. YAY ME!

So, what's up with you this Wednesday?

Motherhood Mondays

2011-08-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a lovely time at Jim Barnett Park. I'm so glad that the weather is getting a bit cooler, it had gotten so hot here that we weren't having very much outside time. Here are a few pics of the boys having fun.

30 Day Mom Challenge

2011-08-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

I found this on iMOM and this is going to be my goal for the next 30 Days. I will update everyone on my progress here.

If you'd like to participate in this challenge you can download the pdf.

Chicken Everyday!

2011-07-08T06:02:00.000-07:00

The title of my post refers to an inside joke that my mom and I share. One day I was fixing dinner while on the phone with my mom and my eldest asked what we were having; I replied chicken. And then he says, "Chicken everyday!" My mother bust out laughing on the phone and now whenever she asks me what we're having for dinner and I say chicken she responds with, "chicken everyday".

I would love to mix it up in the kitchen, but it seems that the one thing my kids will eat with consistency is chicken. So we have chicken nuggets (regular and dinosaur), chicken breasts, drumsticks, chicken wings, if it's a chicken dish I believe that I've made it. It is so difficult getting (my) kids to eat something different and when I try I invariably get "I ownt want it" - the baby or "I don't like it" - the big boy.

Also, my kids are obviously aliens because they do not like the commonly accepted kids foods...mac n' cheese - no dice; spaghetti-o-s - uh uh; PB&J - baby's allergic and big boy either wants a PB sandwich or a J sandwich! Sometimes I feel like I'm at my wits end, so what have I resorted to???? KID CUISINEs!!! They will usually eat most of that, although sometimes I get push back on the corn - what kid doesn't like corn? Obviously mine!

Now, for the first 2 & a half years of the big boys life and the first year of the baby's we ate mostly organic foods and wholesome foods and now it's Kid Cuisine heaven in my house. I feel bad about it sometimes, but I just want them to EAT, so I get over it. But I am still on the hunt for that elusive no-fail kid approved meal that they will eat, so we don't have to have "chicken everyday"!

Summer Learning 2012

2011-05-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Summer is approaching and that means fun in the sun, but it also means another opportunity to teach your child and get them ahead of the game!

Last year I did Sight Words Summer and this year I'll be doing the Summer Bridge Activities. I will be starting with the Pre-K to K Summer Bridge Book on May 23rd . My son is very excited to start and has already flipped through the book to see the activities. I reminded him that that there are two worksheet assignments per day in the book; I had to tell him that because he would do at least 5 a day if I didn't. In order to challenge my son, I'll also be purchasing the K-1 Summer Bridge Activity book so that he can do the worksheets in there as well. This will be beneficial in multiple ways, by challenging him, alleviating boredom and routine, and giving him more activities (which he loves). If you'd like to preview the books and/or see what level your child is on, there are sample pages available.
The Summer Bridge program also has a recommended book list, so we will also be participating in a book reading challenge for the summer! Some other summer reading programs are from Barnes & Noble and PBS Kids. Barnes & Noble has a great summer book reading program and the prize for reading 8 books is a free book and PBS Kids along with iVillage has a Summer Reading Challenge as well that starts on June 6th. For those that would like to teach their children a bit about finances, TD Bank is sponsoring a Summer Reading Program and when they read 10 books they will receive $10 in a new or existing Young Savers account.

I will keep all my Baby Head Diary readers updated on other fun summer learning activities we will be doing in my household along with ways you can enrich your own child(ren)’s summer learning!

I was not paid or compensated by any of the companies I have mentioned, they are just programs that I have found to be interesting or good.

April is Autism Awareness Month

2011-04-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

I know it's the end of April, but I wanted to focus on Autism Awareness Month for a minute and especially how it impacts those in the Black (African-American) community.

WHAT IS AUTISM:
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

Source: Autism Society - About Autism

Many black children with autism, who, according to one study of children on Medicaid, are diagnosed on average about 18 months later than white children.

While a year-and-a-half may not seem like a long time, it is in the life of a child with this developmental disorder, which affects brain function and impedes social interaction and communication skills.

"It is crucial to identify children with autistic-spectrum disorders as early as possible, as studies have demonstrated that the provision of early, intensive, high-quality intervention services is associated with improved outcomes,'' said Dr. Thyde Dumont-Mathieu, a developmental pediatrician at the University of Connecticut with a clinical practice at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford.

A toddler diagnosed with autism may qualify for 15 hours of services per week through the state's Birth to Three program, Dumont-Mathieu said. If not identified, that same child may not get referred to the program, may receive less intensive services and may not benefit from the behavioral approaches recommended for children with autism-spectrum disorders.

Concern is widespread on both national and local levels about whether black children and other minorities are getting diagnosed early enough or are being misdiagnosed.

"It's a hugely important issue,'' said Marguerite Colston of the Autism Society of America in Bethesda, Md. "We have been crying out for attention to minority families with autism for years.''

Source: Charleston Daily News (29 May 2007)

Two African American stars that have children with autism are Toni Braxton and Holly Robinson Peete.

Toni Braxton frequenty partners with Autism Speaks.
After Toni Braxton’s youngest son Diesel was diagnosed with autism at age three, she blamed herself - a feeling she still carries with her five years later. The Grammy award-winning singer opens up about her family’s journey, which reformatted her relationship with her husband Keri Lewis (they’re now separated) and strengthened the bond between her sons. And, she offers hope to parents dealing with the condition – her son is now attending public school thanks, in part, to early diagnosis.
Source: The Autism News

Holly Robinson Peete has her own non-profit, HollyRod Foundation.
When Holly Robinson Peete's son RJ was diagnosed with autism in 2000 at the age of 3, Holly and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, found their world turned upside down. They weathered a challenging personal storm and then decided to share their story to provide hope to other families. Through their HollyRod Foundation, which focuses on improving the lives of children with autism, Robinson Peete has become an advocate for consistent and reliable education, outreach and support of families affected by autism.

Holly Robinson Peete also has two awesome books on Autism. One is for children that was written with her daughter about what it is like to grow up with a sibling who has autism. The book is entitled My Brother Charlie. The second books is entitled Not My Boy!: A Father, A Son, and One Family's Journey with Autism and it is authored by her husband Rodney Peete.

Know the Signs: Early Identification Can Change Lives
Autism is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.

Here are some signs to look for in the children in your life:

Lack of or delay in spoken language
Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
Little or no eye contact
Lack of interest in peer relationships
Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
Persistent fixation on parts of objects

Source: Autism Society

Taekwando, Mommy Calling Cards, and Happiness!

2011-04-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hi folks!

It’s been a while, but I’ve been trying to get my bearings in this new phase of my life. My new work assignment and the travel that goes with it have kept me pretty busy. On the home front things are going well and I think we’re getting accustomed to this new routine of ours.

In awesome family news, my big boy is starting Tae Kwan Do and we’re both UBER EXCITED! His first official class is tonight, but last week he got to view a class so he could get a feel for the rhythm of everything.

When I was signing him up the form asked out of a certain number of things, what were the two that I wanted him to get most out of it. One was better focus/listening skills and the other was for enjoyment. If I could have added a third it would have been for confidence. Now, the big boy is a pretty confident boy as is, but he can be shy in social situations that are new to him. I’m hoping that this activity will give him a bit more confidence as well as introduce him to some new friends. With spring here and summer approaching I can’t wait to make some play dates!

Speaking of play dates, I’m interested in getting some “Mommy Calling Cards”. I had thought about making my own, but there are so many cute ones on Etsy, that I think I’ll end up getting some from there.

This one is calling my name- from Sara Tams

The baby boy is now sleeping solo in his own bed, so he and his brother are now officially sharing their room. Let me just say that his transition was a lot easier; I’m thinking it’s because he can see his brother sleeping in his own bed and he’s not in the room alone. So, I’m very proud of my baby man!

And that's what's been happening here lately!

Life Adjustments; How to Cope

2011-02-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

Image source - Georgetown University Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

Life adjustments can take a lot out of an adult, so you can imagine the stress your baby, toddler, or child of any age goes through when there’s a major (or minor) life change in the works. As I stated before we had two major life changes coincide with each other; here are some of my lessons learned from what we went through this past fall.

1. Books help! Being able to talk to your children about the life change through an illustrated story book allows your child to envision the change before it happens and see themselves as the character. It also opens the child up to conversation about the life change; you can ask your child how do you think the character feels about –insert life change? How would you feel if you were doing that? Your child may also ask you questions based upon the story you’ve read together.

2. Keep your routine! They are already going through enough changes this is not the time to throw bedtimes out the window or any other time honored household routine. Sometimes it’s hard, but children respond and are comforted by routines. For me this meant that although my dining room table did not arrive until after we’d been in our new home for two weeks, we still ate together at the usual time, albeit on a big picnic blanket on the floor.

3. Create new routines! This life change may inspire or FORCE you to create new routines. Have fun incorporating them and let your children have some input on them. Do you get off of work later than usual and dinner needs to be made later? This is the perfect time to introduce “healthy snack time”, now from 5:30 until dinner’s made the kids can pick any snack off of the healthy snack pantry or refrigerator shelf. To keep your kids involved have a grocery store trip for healthy snacks and let them pick the snacks. If they pick something not so healthy, this is a perfect opportunity to teach what makes a snack healthy or a “sometimes” food.

4. Lots of love! Your children may have difficulty adjusting to this life change, you may too. Just remember that lots of love will get you through it. Make sure the hugs and kisses are readily available and make time to “check in” with your child on how they’re feeling about their new life. Together you’ll all get through it!

Next week I'll post some great books to assist with life changes for your children!

The Original Baby Head is Now 4 Years Old!

2011-01-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

It's been a great four years, I can't believe my baby head is becoming more and more of a big boy! I love him immeasurably and I am so happy that God blessed me with him. I pray that every year of his life is better than the last and that he always feels the love I have for him. I know that he will grow up to be a great man, smart, sensitive, kind, honest, God-fearing, and humble. May God's Grace always be upon you my little baby head, Mommy loves you!

Life Changes for the Baby Head Diarist...

2010-12-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

Hello Baby Head Diary Readers,

I apologize for my lack of posting, but I’ve had some major life upheavals. Most significant, the Baby Head Diarist is now co-parenting with the bulk of the day to day parenting being headed up by yours truly. I plan on blogging more about parenting while separated/divorced and will share with my Baby Head Diary readers what it’s like attachment parenting as a single mother. Another significant change is that I have also moved to a different state and started a new job. This was a lot of change at once, but the boys have weathered it well and I’d like to think that Attachment Parenting played a big role in their adaptability.

In providing secure attachment for the children, what may have been a huge upheaval never felt like abandonment or confusing to them. For my eldest son I bought him the book Two Homes and read it to him before we moved. The book never mentions the “Dreaded D – Word” and simply shows a child in two loving homes, one with mom and one with dad. The book shows the similarities of both homes, they both have a favorite chair, friends, and someone who loves them in each. My son truly enjoyed this book and even quoted a line from it, “my daddy loves me wherever I am.” I would definitely recommend this to parents who are in the process of separating or divorcing with young children.

Also, API (Attachment Parenting International) has a page on Dealing with Divorce and Custody Issues and Blended Families .

I will be back to a more regular posting schedule now and I hope that you all continue to read!

October is Attachment Parenting Month!!!

2010-09-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

October is a great month for many reasons: my birthday, the bambino’s birthday, Halloween and of course…ATTACHMENT PARENTING MONTH!!

This year’s theme for Attachment Parenting Month is "Full of Love: parenting to meet the emotional and physical needs of children". API is drawing from API’s Principles and new research to focus on childhood obesity prevention and overall health promotion through secure attachments.

In honor of this year's Attachment Parenting Month theme, I will be doing a giveaway later this month, so STAY TUNED!!!

API is also hosting a blog carnival for AP Month. To participate in the carnival, submit a post on one or more of the following topics as we celebrate emotional and physical health:

For parents who have struggled/are struggling to make healthier nutritional and/or activity changes, what has been the impact on the children? The whole family? (May be better or worse than desired or in flux)
For parents who may be the epitome of physical health, yet have children who regularly make different, less healthy choices, how do you resolve the challenges?
Families whose children are regularly exposed to unhealthy options, how did/do you work through this situation?
Ways we’ve uniquely accommodated and/or resolved common food and activity emotional hot buttons. (Do you have an automatic impulse to make your child clean her/his plate? What do you do? How do you handle deserts? Vegetables? Do you require numbers of bites until finished? )

To participate, simply publish a post on one of the previous topics to your blog with the following text (including hyperlinks):

This post is part of the Attachment Parenting Month blog carnival, hosted by Attachment Parenting International. Learn more about how you can keep your children “Full of Love” by visiting API Speaks, the blog of Attachment Parenting International.

Once your post is completed, please send a note via the API Speaks Contact Form with the link to your blog post as well as a short message that the post is part of the AP Month 2010 blog carnival. Submissions will be accepted until Wednesday, October 13 at noon PT.

Mother's Affection = Better Well Being...

2010-07-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

Something those of us who practice Attachment Parenting already know:

Babies whose mothers are attentive and caring tend to grow into happy, well-adjusted children. But the psychological benefits of having a doting mother may extend well beyond childhood, a new study suggests.

According to the study, which followed nearly 500 infants into their 30s, babies who receive above-average levels of affection and attention from their mothers are less likely than other babies to grow up to be emotionally distressed, anxious, or hostile adults.

Source: CNN

Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic

2010-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Monday!

This week we are going to do the Dolch Words lesson plan for last week, since I slacked before. I've also decided that I am going to hold off on starting the Primary words for at least two weeks. I would like to use that time to do more reading of books and identifying the words he has learned so far. This week I will alsoa word book with all 40 words from the pre-primer.

In other learning news, the big boy is doing really well with his handwriting. His school uses the Handwriting Without Tears program and he's doing really well. He can spell his first name by himself and he has finally gotten the hang of making the letter S, that was the most challenging for him. Also, my husband has been working with him on addition and subtraction and he's really taken well to that. So I guess we're doing the three Rs! *wink*

SLACKER ALERT!!!

2010-07-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

This week we have only done our Dolch word cards once! I don’t know if it’s the upcoming holidays or what, but we’ve been in total slack mode. So, instead of putting pressure on myself or the boy, this week we’re going to count as a vacation week. I mean we’ve already learned most of the words for pre-schoolers, I think we deserve a break. We will pick-up where we left off on July 6^th. In the meantime we’ll just continue doing what we were doing and that’s having fun!

Mommy making a princess

Having a Laugh

From boy to Spiderman

All pictures by the lovely Mary Higham (HIRE HER!!!)

Recap Week 3 & Intro to Week 4

2010-06-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

Week 3 went really well and we’re kind of on autopilot as far as how we go about learning the words. He mastered all the words for the week and now we’re upon week 4. I’ve decided to shake things up a bit this week, though. Tonight I will introduce the words and do the usual Monday routine, but in the middle of the week as a review of the previous weeks I will incorporate all of the words into our flashcard game. Then we will make sentences using at least two words per sentence from weeks 1-4.

Week 4 Words:

said

see

the

three

two

where

yellow

you

Week 4 is the last week for pre-K (pre-Primer) sight words. So, next week I will be introducing the Kindergarten (Primer) sight words. There are 52 words, so we will increase our words to 13 a week, for four weeks. Here is the new list of sight words with the pre-K & Kindergarten words.

How do you get your kids to embrace summer reading?

2010-06-25T06:20:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and school is out (or pre-school) if you’re a mom to a 3 year old like me, but you don’t want the learning to stop just because the weather’s hot. So, how do you get your kids to embrace summer reading? Well, if you’ve been reading my blog this month, you’d know that my strategy is to teach my son the pre-primer to first grade Dolch sight words over the summer.

I’ve tried to make this as fun as possible for my son because he is a very active fun loving boy, so just sitting still and watching a video isn’t going to cut it for him. He loves games so we have incorporated the flash cards as a game, he receives points for every word he can correctly identify and no matter how many points he gets, the reward is usually the same…CHOCOLATE! I’ve also used the sight words for Bingo, which is a favorite game of his, mostly because he gets to use the bingo dabber and make a bit of a mess. To get his creative juices flowing I let him create sentences out of the words he’s learning. The sentences can be long, short, or silly as long as he uses the word in the right context. If he’s stuck on a word I tell him the word and ask him what type of picture should we draw to help him remember the word. He comes up with the greatest ideas, for the word make he said I should draw a picture of a baker with a cake, because bakers make cakes! It’s a good thing I can draw.

Another fun activity that we’re doing is using the words we’re learning to read stories. When I read to him, I ask him what words he sees that he knows and he points out the words he’s learned to read so far. I also read to him and stop at the words that I know he can read so that he can read that portion of the story. It will be so exciting when he can finally read an entire story all by himself. As an avid reader and writer, teaching my son to read is a very rewarding experience. I cannot wait for the day when not only is he reading to me, but when I can pass along to him some of the books that have shaped my life and the way in which I view the world and hopefully they will do the same for him!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get an "I Can Read!" book. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Dolch Sight Words Summer Weeks 2 & 3

2010-06-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Hi all sorry for the delay in posting. I’ve been in a bit of a whirlwind, since I’ve become recently employed and then whisked off to California my first three days on the job. Even with all the jumble of life, I have been diligently plugging along with the Dolch Sight words.

We are currently on week 3, but I’d like to do a recap of weeks 1 & 2 before I move on to this week.

Week 1: The week went really well, there were only 4 words he did not already know on sight. Then there were 3 words he continued to get stuck on, even on day 2. In order to help him associate the spelling of the word with the word, I drew a picture on the card to help jog his memory. Those words were and, away, & down. At the end of the week I created a sight word bingo card using the words from week 1 & week 2 (as a preview). I was quite surprised that many of week 2’s words he could already identify! After seeing how he preferred to learn the words I modified week 1’s lesson plan for week 2.

Week 2: I modified week one’s lesson plan and did the following:

Monday - Introduction to the sight words of the week. First we will view the sight words & see if there are any that he can already identify. For the words he cannot readily identify I say the word and then have him use it in a sentence. I then him associate the spelling of the words he finds difficult with a picture by drawing directly on that word card.
Tuesday - Spelling the word. We repeat the steps for Monday, but after that I then show him the words and tell him to spell it to me. I then proceed to write the word as he spells it in a notebook. I then show him what I wrote and ask him, “Is this right?” Then I ask him what word it is.
Wednesday - Review. Show all the sight words for the week. See which words the child can identify. Any words that cannot be readily identified, re-do Mon & Tues activity for those words.
Thursday - Story time. Create a story using the words for the week. Read the story and then have your child try and identify the words they know in the story.
Friday - More Review. Create a sight words bingo card using the current week and the next week’s word. Play sight word bingo covering all the words.

Week 2 Words:

for

funny
go
help
here
I
in
is
it
jump

Week 3 I plan on using the above lesson plan. This week’s words were harder to identify for him and on day 1 he could only identify 3 out of the 10 on his own.

Week 3 Words:

little

look
make
me
my
not
one
play
red
run

How is your sight words summer going?

Week 1: Summer Reading with Sight Words

2010-06-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

Here is the game plan for the week.

Monday - Introduction to the sight words of the week. First we will view the sight words & see if there are any that he can already identify. Next, I will say the word on the flash card. Lastly, I will use the word in the sentence and then repeat the word on it's own.
Tuesday - Spelling the word. Show the word; Say: This is the word /if/ --Ask: What letter is at the beginning of this word? --Ask: Does this word have a smaller word inside it? --Try to point out something characteristic about the word--This word begins with the same letter as your name; or This word only has 3 letters, just like the word /cat/ you learned yesterday. --Say: Now I want you to say each letter in the word as I spell it aloud, and you write it in the sand (or using another kinesthetic method like shaving cream on a cookie sheet, chalk on the sidewalk, magnetic letters, cereal letters, etc) --Then have the child spell the word aloud while you print it in his Word Book(a small notebook having all this week's words on one page)
Wednesday - Review. Show all the sight words for the week. See which words the child can identify. Any words that cannot be readily identified, re-do Tuesday's activity for those words.
Thursday - Story time. Create a story using the words for the week. Read the story and then have your child try and identify the words they know in the story.
Friday - More Review. Show all the sight words for the week. See which words the child can identify. Any words that cannot be readily identified, re-do Tuesday's activity for those words.

Week 1 Sight Words:

a and away big blue can come down find

Sight Words Summer Prep

2010-06-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Next week is the beginning of our Sight Words Summer, but before we begin we will need to do a little preparation for the upcoming week. Here is some prep work before we start:

Create Dolch Sight Words flash cards - I will be using 3x5 index cards to create my sight words. You may use this spreadsheet to download the Sight Words, it is broken down by the week it will be taught in.
Print out the Dolch Sight Word story - This story uses all 220 sight words. I will be reading this story every week and asking my son which words he recognizes or can read.
Set up a designated time & space for your lessons - This will signal to your child when it's reading time and create excitement and wonder about the process.

Sunday I will be posting the lesson plan for next week, have a good weekend preparing for READING!

The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution

2010-06-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Pantley, the author of such great parenting books as The No-Cry Sleep Solution, The No-Cry Discipline Solution, The No-Cry Potty Training Solution, and The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers, has a new book out on Separation Anxiety. As a mother with a 7 mth. old who has never been in daycare or out of my sight for very long, this is a book I desperately need. I'll be going back to work soon and it's going to be tough for both of us, my child and I, to leave each other for 9 hours a day. It hurt just typing that!

According to Pantley's new book, The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution:

Separation anxiety is a titanic ordeal for many families and can create a cloud of stress over an otherwise happy family life. I have learned that information, knowledge, and a few new ideas can be a lifesaver for parents and children suffering separation anxiety. These tips can allow you to stay connected, and at the same time support your child’s growing independence.

Separation anxiety seeps into children’s lives for many reasons, and for separations both brief and extended. Infants cry when a parent hands them over to a loving relative. Many babies sit on the floor outside a bathroom door while a desperate Mommy tries to take a very quick shower. Toddlers weep at the daycare center every morning while loving parents attempt to pry them off, while desperately promoting the many wonders that await the reluctant child. There are children crying beside a babysitter as Mommy or Daddy goes off to work, and children adjusting to their parents’ divorce – which means they must always leave someone behind. There are many children suffering through the feelings of missing a parent who is deployed, in the hospital, or away on a business trip. In addition, children must often leave their parent’s behind as they go off, which causes a different kind of separation anxiety: children who must stay alone at the hospital, go away to camp, or stay behind when Mommy goes off to have a new baby. And then there are those nightly battles that occur the world over as parents try to convince anxious children to sleep alone all night, in their very own beds in their very own bedrooms.

This is the book I wish I had from the beginning of my parenting career to use for all the times my four children suffered from separation anxiety, and to help me with my separation anxiety as I dealt with my own feelings of separation with each of my children’s milestones. I am very happy to be able to present many gentle, effective No-Cry separation anxiety solutions to you.

Separation anxiety is normal and unavoidable. Yet, it’s hard to find comfort in that fact when you are faced with the frustration, sadness and helplessness that it creates. This book will provide you with many specific solutions and instructions for helping your child overcome separation anxiety, so that you both can part ways with a good-bye, a happy wave, and a smile.

For more information on this book or other No Cry Solution books, please visit: The Elizabeth Pantley website.

* This post was written also as a submission to the following contest.

Sight Words Summer

2010-05-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Summer is a great time to introduce new concepts to your child or to reinforce concepts learned during the "school" year. I've decided that this summer would be a great time to reinforce reading concepts we've practiced during the year. It is a personal goal of mine for my eldest son to be able to read at a "kindergarten level" by age 4 (his birthday is Jan. 23rd).

I plan on teaching reading through sight words this summer. Hass already has an understanding of the phonetics of the alphabet. However, sight words are words that can not always be sounded out, but beginning readers need to readily know.

I plan on teaching him these sight words during June, July, and August, using the Dolch Sight words list. I will be teaching the pre-K & Kindergarten Dolch sight words and depending on the rate that we go, maybe the 1st grade words as well. We'll use a combination of word cards & sight word books to learn and enforce these concepts. Each week I'll post a lesson plan for the week on Sunday, Wednesday I'll post how the lesson is going for us, and Friday will be a review of the lesson and maybe a weekend activity to reinforce the learning for the week. Each week I will post resources for you to use if you'd like to join me!

I hope that you will follow along with me and maybe even join the program if your child is ready to start reading!

A Mother Is...

2010-05-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

A Mother is…

An open heart

Soft words

The bearer of kisses

Life giver

Helping hands

A source of strength

Love immeasurable

Tickler of tummies

Comforting words

Hugs on time

Boo-boo kisser

#1 Listener

A mother is me.

Motherhood Mondays: Hello Sunshine

2010-03-08T10:55:00.001-08:00

I am delighted that the sun has finally decided to show its face to the lovely Washington, DC area. I was beginning to think the snow from snowpocalypse would never melt and the sun would never shine.

To celebrate the sun, the boys and I had an impromptu picnic in our neighborhood park. The past week Hass had been playing pretend picnic with my husband in the living room, using our anniversary picnic basket and alphabet magnets for food. Yesterday around lunch time, I started making lunch and put everything in plastic bags. Then I told Hass that, “Mommy needed some help”, a surefire way to get him to drop whatever he's doing. Then I told him that I needed his help putting our lunch in the picnic basket. His eyes lit up as he asked me were we going on a REAL picnic. I told him that indeed we were and we loaded up the stroller with the basket and our picnic blanket.

While at the park we basked in the sun, N had tummy time on the blanket, Hass & I ate PB&Js, goldfish crackers, and grapes, drank water and iced tea, went on a rock treasure hunt, and ran in the grass. It was everything a spring day should be and I can’t wait for more to come. Later on my mother came by and picked me up to go to the National Harbor. We continued the great spring day and had a great time going to the Peeps store, people watching, and having a fabulous dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Rosa Mexicano.

Three cheers for moms & warmer weather!

Motherhood Mondays

2010-03-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

To Do:

Sew some buttons

Buy some fabric

Wash some clothes

Make tacos

Research for school

Fold some clothes

Love some baby!

Kiss

Sleep

AP Thursdays: Teaching Moments

2010-02-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

This post is taken from the Attachment Parenting International e-newsletter; I read it and it resonated so much and was written so eloquently I saw no need to paraphrase:

If there was ever a true maxim in parenting, this is one to remember: There is no such thing as a quick fix!

Now, that may sound sad or daunting to parents who want some simple tools to raise their children, but it's important to step back and look at the big picture when we find ourselves opting for quick fixes. If our goal is to raise healthy, happy, compassionate, loving human beings who are responsible citizens of the community, this could be compared to creating a masterpiece in music, art, or even some business endeavor. Can we expect to create a musical masterpiece by ignoring our need to put hours into practicing our instrument, learning theory, and listening to other virtuosos in developing our craft?

Each stage of our parenting journey has equal amounts of relief and new challenges. Just when we rejoice that our toddler is out of diapers, he decides to draw us a picture with permanent markers on the newly painted kitchen wall. Just when our teenager gets his driver's license and we have him run a few errands, he gets in a fender bender in the parking lot of the grocery store.

The parents who look at the big picture can keep their cool, "Remember, this is a teachable moment...what can we all learn from this?" The quick fix answer would be to simply put the toddler in the corner, or ground the teenager from driving, but how will that accomplish our long-term goal of a healthy, responsible human being? Yes, it takes so much more time to get out the cleaning supplies and ask the toddler to help clean the walls, and it takes more time to set up an art corner in the kitchen with appropriate supplies for painting a picture. It also takes more time to give the teenager more instruction in parallel parking, and possible restrictions on his driving until he's more mature. But what incredible opportunities for connection, understanding, and empathy!

Once, when my [Barbara's] oldest son was a toddler, we had the experience I just described -- he found some markers and joyfully created a beautiful mural all over the walls in the freshly painted main hallway of our house. Being a new mom, I was shocked at how strongly I reacted to this: I was so angry, yet he was so proud and happy. Seeing my reaction, he dissolved into tears and I lacked the maturity and parenting skills to know what to do! I actually left him crying while I called a friend who had older children and whose parenting skills I admired. She wisely told me to get out the cleaning supplies and have him help me, thus beginning my journey into seeing these episodes as teachable moments.

Parents may fear that this is taking away their power, that if they don't harshly chastise their children, they will not learn a lesson and repeat the behavior. But going back to the musical metaphor, what if you were spanked or yelled at every time you made a mistake playing your instrument? Who can learn anything by this kind of treatment? However, if our instructor -- or parent -- can patiently demonstrate the correct way to play the song, or clean the wall, or drive the car, then the lesson is deeply understood, often not repeated, and everyone's dignity remains intact. How can a quick fix compare to that?

Peaceful parenting,

Barbara Nicholson & Lysa Parker
Co-founders of Attachment Parenting International and co-authors of Attached at the Heart
http://www.attachedattheheartbook.com/

If you'd like to receive more great parenting advice like this, please join Attachment Parenting International.

Great Deal: 40% off Let's Explore

2010-01-13T05:49:00.000-08:00

Sadly, the awesome online imaginative play store Let's Explore will be closing, but the good news is that they are offering their wares at 40% off. Please take advantage of this offer before items are gone!

2009 Wrap Up!

2009-12-18T14:59:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone,

This is my last post for 2009; I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! I've added to my family by one lovely son, reinvigorated this blog, showcased some wonderful moms of color that practice attachment parenting, spoke on my experiences raising my toddler son and my pregnancy, and attempted to share a little piece of my life with the blogosphere.

Thanks for everyone that's read and commented on my blog in 2009. I hope to make 2010 even better! See you again in the new year!

New Post @ Cre8tive Rookie

2009-12-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

Although, I've been on hiatus here, yesterday I posted on my other blog, Cre8tive Rookie, about Christmas crafting. Please visit me there!

Great Deal: Breastfeeding Covers!

2009-11-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

OMG, I had to go off of hiatus for this one. While I was reading my Google Reader Blogroll, I found this great deal! Get a FREE nursing cover, just pay shipping & handling of $8.95! They are regulary over $30! The one I ordered is on backorder, but it's gorgeous!

*Typed while I nurse! :)

Wordless Wednesday: My Raison d'être

2009-11-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

Baby Head Diary Hiatus

2009-11-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

Sorry for the lack of posting, but I had my newest bundle of joy! Na'im Kedar Williams has arrived. STATS: DOB 10/25/2009 Weight: 7.4 oz. Length: 19.5" Stay tuned for his birth story after I've had some more sleep, LOL!

AP Thursdays: Family Activities to Stay Attached

2009-10-08T05:45:00.001-07:00

October is Attachment Parenting Month and to celebrate, each Thursday I will be having a contest. Today's contest is about family activities that help you stay attached. API has been collecting activities and posting them for this month, today's activity is: "Look at old family photo albums or videos." What do you do as a family to stay attached?

Today's contest is to answer that question. The winner will receive the book, Attached at the Heart: 8 Proven Parenting Principles for Raising Connected and Compassionate Children.

To enter make a comment on this post. For an extra entry tweet the contest and then copy your tweet url into the comments area for an extra entry (you can tweet it once a day for extra entries). Tweet: "October is AP Month: What do you do as a family to stay attached? – Contest - http://tinyurl.com/ydzbeqt #babyheaddiary"

The contest ends on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 and the winner will be announced on the next AP Thursday.

AP Thursdays: October is Attachment Parenting Month

2009-10-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

October is Attachment Parenting Month and this year's theme is "Attached at the Heart Through the Years". The AP Month vision is to create one strong voice for AP through activities, events and information and to celebrate what we believe in — the value of being “Attached at the Heart Through the Years” for our families and for our communities.

“Attached at the Heart Through the Years” is the theme for AP Month 2009 and a statement that healthy, secure attachments between parents and children is a dynamic process that extends throughout childhood and does not end with baby bonding. During AP Month, parents are challenged to re-examine their daily activities and traditions and learn new ways to grow with each other and remain close and supportive. AP Month partners will offer resources to support and sustain these efforts all year round.

Key AP Month Goals include unifying the AP voice to:
1. Offer parents and adults support and confidence in growing “Attached at the Heart Through the Years” to last a lifetime
2. Promote awareness of AP
3. Educate about API, other AP Month sponsors and their services
4. Provide a source of funds to support the API mission

To learn more about Attachment Parenting Month, please visit Attachment Parenting International's Website.

Each AP Thursday this month I will be doing some fabulous give-aways in honor of Attachment Parenting Month and maybe a surprise give-away at some other time during the month, so STAY TUNED!

Wordless Wednesday: Boycott Nestle

2009-09-30T07:33:00.001-07:00

Motherhood Mondays: Donate Your Old Slings or Wraps to a Mom in Need!

2009-09-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday! Today is the last day of International Babywearing Week and I have just found out * about a great organization called No Mother Left Behind, that takes in donated slings, babywraps, and carriers for women in need. I think this is a great idea and I will be donating my old sling today! Maybe you, too can help a mother in need because babywearing shouldn't be limited by income!

* Thanks to PhD in Parenting's weekend post!

International Babywearing Week, Pregnancy Progression, & Sleeping Solutions

2009-09-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

This week is International Babywearing Week and I've neglected to give it the attention it deserves, for that I apologize. However, I will be doing a lot more babywearing this time around than I did with the big boy and to facilitate that I ordered myself a Sleepywrap, in light blue. I just received mine in the mail yesterday and it's soft and beautiful. I cannot wait to try it out. Well, I tried it on, but my tummy was in the way, however it was VERY simple to tie.

Today I am at home, unexpectedly, just haven't been feeling my best. I'm nearing my 36th week (officialy starts on Sunday) and I'm really ready to just get this baby out! I do feel blessed to have had a healthy pregnancy since my early emergency room scare. I've been reading about so many pregnancy issues that I am so happy and relieved that I've had pretty smooth sailing.

In other mommy news I am so proud of my big boy, he's been sleeping in his bed really well. As I've said before this is all thanks to Elizabeth Pantley's No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Prechoolers. Well, I will definitely be buying the original No-Cry Sleep Solution in order to get Na'im off to a good start with his sleeping habits. I know as a new mommy you may want to respond to every single noise that your baby makes at night, but the best thing is to let your baby sleep by knowing what noises are sleeping noises and what are waking noises.

According to Pantley, the first step to helping your baby sleep longer is to determine the difference between sleeping noises and awake noises. When she makes a noise: Stop. Listen. Wait. Peek. As you listen attentively to her noises, and watch her, you will learn the difference between sleeping snorts and “I'm waking up and I need you now” noises.

When I learned this eye-opening piece of information, I started “playing asleep” when Coleton made a nighttime noise. I would just listen and watch — not moving a single muscle — until he began to make actual wakeful noises. Some of the time, he never did; he just went back to sleep!

The idea, then, is to learn when you should pick your baby up for a night feeding and when you can let her go back to sleep on her own.

This is a time when you need to really focus your instincts and intuition. This is when you should try very hard to learn how to read your baby's signals.

You need to listen and watch your baby carefully. Learn to differentiate between these sleeping sounds and awake and hungry sounds. If she is really awake and hungry, you'll want to feed her as quickly as possible. If you do respond immediately when she is hungry, she will most likely go back to sleep quickly.

So, the key here is to listen carefully when your baby makes night noises: If she is making “sleeping noises” — let her sleep. If she really is waking up — tend to her quickly.

Such great advice and I can't wait to read the rest of the book to pick up some more tips!

AP Thursdays MOC Interview: Elita from Blacktating

2009-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Name: Elita

Age: Almost 31

How old is your child(ren)?
21 months

How did you come to be an Attachment Parent?
I actually always had certain beliefs about pregnancy and parenting and I always knew I wanted an all-natural birth, to breastfeed and cloth diaper, because those are the things my mother did with me. When I was pregnant, I reconnected with an old friend on MySpace and we began emailing back and forth. I told her about my pregnancy and how I was seeing a midwife for childbirth classes and I was nervous about a hospital birth because I didn't want any medical interventions. I asked her to recommend some books to me on pregnancy and parenting. She immediately responded, "Oh, it sounds like you're going to be practicing Attachment Parenting" and recommended Dr. Sears' The Baby Book. At first I was like, "Attachment parenting? Is she nuts?" but I picked up the book and everything seemed to fall into place. Yes, this is what I wanted to do with my child. It was everything I intuitively felt and believed, confirmed for me by a doctor.

What do you enjoy most about Attachment Parenting?
I love that my son is secure in the knowledge that I will always be there for him. When I see how well he is turning out, how smart and independent, I know that we are doing the right thing.

What do you enjoy the least?
Feeling like I have to defend my parenting choices to strangers, family and friends. So many ideas about child rearing that are mainstream and considered "normal" just don't work for me. I hate that people have no qualms about telling me how I'm going to spoil or ruin my child, how he'll never sleep alone, will still be nursing in college, etc. For some reason, AP beliefs seem to be up for ridicule. I would NEVER talk to another parent that way about their choices, even it was something I didn't agree with, like using cry it out.

What would you tell other MOC's about Attachment Parenting?
When you are able to follow your instincts and nurture your baby the way your guts tells you to, everything is easier. Breastfeeding is not only better for your baby, but bonds you to him in a way that bottle-feeding can't. Learning how to discipline our kids without physical force could make such a difference in the entire community. Think about how much violence there is in the black community and all of it starts in the home, with corporal punishment. We need to let go of some of those "old school" ways if we want to heal our community. Attachment Parenting gives you the tools to raise your baby in a way that is healthy and loving.

What do you think is the most common misconception about Attachment Parenting?
That people who practice AP are hippies who don't discipline their kids. I don't hit my son, but he is definitely disciplined and even at a young age knows right from wrong.

Do you blog or twitter? What is your link?
Yes, I blog about breastfeeding at Blacktating (http://blacktating.blogspot.com) and you can also find me on twitter. I'm @Blacktating (http://www.twitter.com/blacktating)

Wordless Wednesday: A Day at the Fair

2009-09-23T05:44:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't love the fair?

Motherhood Mondays: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

2009-09-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

I recently enrolled the big boy in a weekend Spanish Immersion class that is offered on site at his pre-school. His pre-school previously had weekly Spanish lessons and are now transitioning to a weekly Spanish Immersion class on Fridays. This weekend class will supplement that instruction, which begins in October. Not only do I believe in immersion for teaching a new language, I also believe that exposing a child at this age to a foreign language is the best time to do so. You all can look up the studies on this, there have been a ton. Luckily, for me we also qualified for a discount for the weekend class because he is currently enrolled in one (albeit it's the school's program and is incl. in the tuition price). This all adds up to YAY ME! in my book.

So imagine my surprise when some people expressed the notion that this class would "cost too much", especially if I planned on having him in Spanish Immersion until school age and/or he was fluent. I know some people don't like to talk about money, but here goes...this class is 10 wks. and is $180 for each 10 wk. session, that's $18 a session. On a normal weekday I spend at least that on breakfast and lunch (when I'm working), so why would I not invest that same amount of money in my child? I see people who spend money on loads of things for their children, toys, designer shoes, clothes, etc. but don't invest in their children's future or education. This money is an investment in my child's future and even if it was burdensome for my family to pay this I would try and make sacrifices elsewhere in my life to accommodate my child's education.

It's so funny that I received this response because earlier in the week I was reading an article about an elite high school in Northern Virginia and how currently the enrollment is majority Asian, the reason given was that, "Many Asian families will do whatever they can to support their children's education," said Fairfax school board member Ilryong Moon. "They will garner any and all financial resources."

As parents (shoot as an individual) look at where your money goes because it tells you a lot, where your money goes shows you what your values are. Or as the Good Book says, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also - Luke 12:34

Friday Feedback: Parenting 101

2009-09-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

Friday Feedback is a new feature to the blog, where I will be featuring comments or emails sent to the Baby Head Diaries.

Tiffany said...: This is the first I'm hearing about this term, but it sounds like parenting 101 to me. That fact that it's based on some development psychological theory is a shame. It seems like common sense to me. My mom was nurturing and reassuring. As a result she reared 4 confident, caring, and intellectual children. I intend to do the same and I don't need to study API theories to do it.
Tiffany,: I am glad that you were raised in a home where AP values were the norm, many of us were not and many more right now are not being raised in that way. I, too believe that this should be an inherent part of parenting and because IMO, it's the biologically correct way to parent, is why there is developmental psych. theory behind it. Science is just a way to explain the way things should be. It's like someone saying, "Well, everyone should know that eating vegetables and exercising is the best way to stay healthy and fit." Yes, we know that instinctively, science tells us it's so, yet we have an American population that is 31% obese (35% for blacks) and 63% overweight .; The purpose of this site is to reinforce this method of parenting and enlighten those who do not know about it, especially in the black community. Here are some basic AP issues and how black families fare with them.; Breastfeeding: “In 2001, only 52.9% African American women breastfed their infants in the early postpartum period, compared with 73% of Hispanic mothers and 72% of white mothers. The proportion of African American mothers continuing to nurse 6 months after birth was only 22%, compared with 33% of Hispanic mothers and 34% of white mothers. These rates underscore a significant racial/ethnic disparity in breastfeeding rates.” - Oyeku, S. (2003). A Closer Look at Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Breastfeeding. Public Health Reports.; Discipline: Researchers found that black children were spanked and verbally punished the most, possibly because of cultural beliefs about the importance of respecting elders and in the value of physical discipline, or because parents feel they have to prepare their children for a racist and potentially dangerous world. - Thomas, J. (2009) Early Spankings Make for Aggressive Toddlers, Study Shows.; Her study found that about one-third of the 1-year-olds, and about half of the 2- and 3-year-olds, had been spanked in the previous week, according to mothers' self-reporting to the researchers. At all three ages, African-American children were spanked significantly more frequently than those from white and Mexican-American families, and verbally punished more than the other children at ages 2 and 3, the study said. Landau, E. (2009) Spanking Detrimental to Children Study Says. CNN

For this reason this site exists and I hope that you are able to enlighten others through your site as well about the way you parent, some people just need to see a living example of what to do to change their minds. :)

AP Thursdays: Feeding with Love and Respect

2009-09-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

According to API, Feeding with Love and Respect is a way to show love to your child. Some people think that this is a principle only for babies and is about breastfeeding, but this principle is especially important for older children, too. I've always felt the bond between food and love and envied my peers who had mothers that would regularly cook meals for them, by the time I was a pre-teen my family's jobs took so much of their time that meals were often quick and dirty affairs where we ate in our own rooms or in front of the television. Food offers an opportunity to connect with your children through family meals served at the dinner table, it's a time to see what is on your child's mind and what kind of day that they've had. Meal times are also a time to model healthy eating habits for your toddlers and older children, by encouraging your child to follow their internal cues for hunger and thirst, and to eat when hungry and stop when full.

Personally, my son was a bit resistant to certain foods, but I discovered a fun and sneaky way to get him to eat things he wouldn't normally. Instead of eating a piece of chicken, a scoop of mashed potatoes, and a forkful of brocolli, we make COMBOS! A combo is all of those things on one fork or spoon and he LOVES to eat this way. He always says, "Mom we're eating combos!" I even got him to eat grits for breakfast this way. Grits to him were a foreign yucky substance, but not when you have turkey bacon and egg with it on the fork, suddenly it's a BREAKFAST COMBO! LOL!

See he's none the wiser!

Wordless Wednesdays:

2009-09-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

Do you know about your breastfeeding rights in your state?

AP Thursdays: Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting

2009-09-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

* Photo is of my eldest on his born day!

The first principle of Attachment Parenting is to Prepare for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting, which is really an apropos topic to tackle considering that I am pregnant with my second child. I will admit that this pregnancy was a surprise one, I initially thought I was food poisoned, LOL! However that doesn't mean I slacked on preparing myself once I learned I was pregnant.

I've been reading up more on Attachment Parenting specifically on how I might do things differently this time around. For example, I bed-shared with my eldest, but I am choosing to co-sleep with Na'im first in a co-sleeper and then in a crib in our room. I've also investigated ways to diffuse any conflicts that arrive from outside influences on my parenting choices, so now I have an arsenal at my disposal, which I didn't have before. Not knowing how to a stand on your parenting choices can cause havoc in your marital relationship as well as make you second guess yourself (espescially as a first time mother), however if you have done your research and trust your instincts no one should be able to stop you from parenting the way you choose to.

Another very important part of your preparation is preparing for the actual birth of your child. So many of us get caught up in buying onesies, booties, blankets, and strollers, that we forget to get to that point, you actually have to give birth! Think about how you want your birth experience to be and what are your actual options at your hospital. I wanted to be as active as possible with my eldest and because I knew from attending birth classes given by my hospital that they are a lay you down and hook you up with monitors hospitals I delayed leaving for the hospital for a while (or what I thought was a while because I ended up at the hospital for 12 HOURS!!!). The time that I did spend at home I spent eating a good breakfast (the hospital I went to didn't let you eat while in labor!), took a nice warm shower, and bounced on my birthing ball (exercise ball) to relieve some of the contractions. I had also previously created and printed out a birth plan that I had made using a template from BabyCenter, that I gave to my doctor before and to my nurse when I arrived at the hospital.

Here are some of API's suggestions on preparing yourself for pregnancy:

Reflect on childhood experiences and current beliefs about parenting
Explore parenting philosophies
Work through negative emotions surrounding the pregnancy
Prepare physically for pregnancy; eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, avoid stress when possible
Explore different types of healthcare providers and birthing options. Consider reading "Ten Questions to Ask" and "Ten Steps" by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, and visiting the Baby Friendly Initiative website by UNICEF.
Recommit to a strong, healthy relationship between expectant parents
Educate yourself about breastfeeding
Be alert and physically active during childbirth
Research all aspects of "routine" newborn care, such as bathing, circumcision, eye drops, blood samples, collecting cord blood, etc. Document your preferences and share them with health care providers.
Prepare to have extra help in the first few weeks after birth
Consider a birth and/or postpartum doula
Be prepared with questions to ask should unexpected birth or newborn situations arise
- What are the benefits of this intervention, and what are your instincts telling you?
- What are the risks and possible outcomes if I choose to do this or if I choose not to?
- What are the other options?
- How long do I have to make the decision?

The remarkable journey of new life is a positive, transformative experience. Pregnancy offers expectant parents an opportunity to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally for parenthood. Making informed decisions about childbirth, newborn care, and parenting practices is a critical investment in the attachment relationship between parent and child. Education is a key component of preparation for the difficult decisions required of parents and is an ongoing process as each stage of growth and development brings new joys and challenges.

When preparing for the birth of a child, it is easy to get caught up in the material things associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care. Tiny infant clothing, the latest maternity fashions, and baby gear can all be part of preparing for a baby, but the lasting investment of preparation involves becoming informed so that you can create a peaceful, loving environment in which to grow, birth, and care for a new life.

Wordless Wednesday: My Little Star

2009-09-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

He got these glasses on a class fieldtrip to Chuck E. Cheese. These are his "cool glasses". I also think he just got finished eating his favorite snack...peanut butter on a spoon!

33 Weeks, O-M-Gosh!

2009-09-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

My baby is a HONEYDEW! I am just so excited and still a little mystified that I will be giving birth in a matter of weeks!

AP Thursdays: Attachment Parenting is Not...

2009-09-03T06:10:00.000-07:00

* picture is of Hass, myself, and hubby April 2008.

I am a huge fan of PhD in Parenting's blog, she's also an attachment parent and speaks so eloquently and knowledgeably about Attachment Parenting. I've included her as a blog link on my sidebar, but I could have easily put her under resources as well. She has a wonderful post on what Attachment Parenting is NOT, that I will refer you to later.

I was thinking the other day about the reasons why some parents choose to not attachment parent their child and I think they do it more for reasons that are based in what AP is not, rather than what it is. I say this because I just cannot fathom why any reasonable and loving parent would reject any of the 8 Principles of Attachment Parenting, so I believe that the misconceptions of AP overshadow the principles at times. Here is my list of what AP is NOT.

Attachment Parenting is Not:

Using elimination communication and never wearing diapers. Although some AP parents practice this, it's not an AP principle.

Homeschooling or Unschooling your children, though some parents feel that their children will learn better in this environment.

Totally crunchy, i.e. organic foods, making your own baby food.

Against circumcision. My son is circumcised and more than likely his brother will be as well. It is a personal and/or religious choice to choose to circumcise, but if you are on the fence here's some info. from Dr. Sears.

For more on what AP is Not, read PhD in Parenting's List

Attachment Parenting IS:

Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting

Feeding with Love and Respect

Responding with Sensitivity

Using Nurturing Touch

Ensuring Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally

Providing Consistent and Loving Care

Practicing Positive Discipline

Striving for Balance in Your Personal and Family Life

Wordless Wednesdays: First Bike (Trike)

2009-09-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

Safety First!

Motherhood Monday: Back to School

2009-08-31T05:45:00.000-07:00

Today was the first official day of my son's pre-K 3 class. Last week they had a transition week to get them used to the set up and rules for pre-K. I am so proud of him, he's currently only 2.5, but they believed that he was ready academically and socially to move to the pre-K 3 class. To get ready for this momentous occasion, he got to pick out a new book bag yesterday. His choice a Diego "rescue pack" that can also roll. This morning instead of mommy carrying him almost to the front door, he proudly walked backpack in hand the 10 ft. from our parking spot to the school's front door. He ran excitedly in and gave Mr. Mike a big high five and bounded to his classroom. Today was breezy and a little cool, so he had on his jacket which he took off and handed to me to put in his new tall cubby, along with his backpack. Then he sat on the alphabet carpet and said goodbye mommy, goodbye daddy. No tears, no protests, no fussing, just pure joy and happiness for his first day of school.

I am so happy to see my little baby growing into a confident and happy little boy right in front of my eyes. And I'm also thankful I'm about to have a new baby to do all of the baby things with all over again. Being a mother is a blessing and a joy, I thank God every night for the family that He has given to me and the awesome responsibility He has entrusted me with. Moms, don't ever forget how blessed you are!

AP Thursdays New Feature: Moms of Color

2009-08-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Today I'm introducing a new feature on The Baby Head Diaries and that is an interview with a mom of color who practices Attachment Parenting. In the blog-o-sphere it seems like the majority of parents who practice AP are not moms of color (MOC) and I get so excited when I find one who is. So, this will be their introduction to the world via my blog. I hope their interviews inspire other moms of color to research and practice Attachment Parenting. So, for the inaugural interview, I will be interviewing myself and monthly on the last Thursday of the month we will be interviewing a new MOC that practices AP. If you'd like to be interviewed and featured, please send an email to babyheaddiarist@gmail.com.

Name:
Kenesha Williams

Age:
Almost 30

How old is your child(ren)?
31 mths. and -8 weeks (I'm baking a late Oct. baby boy)

How did you come to be an Attachment Parent?
I actually started doing a lot of things that API recommends for Attachment Parenting intuitively. I researched many things going into the birth of my eldest son and knew that I wanted to breastfeed and that I wanted alternative pain management techniques in addition to having the option of an epidural. Once he was born it made sense to me that we would bedshare because it was the easiest way to breastfeed at night and I loved snuggling with my bundle of joy. I ended up babywearing because it was easy and my son was most at ease in my arms or close to me. It always made sense to me to listen to my babies cues instead of trying to force my will upon him and I've never been a fan of violent discipline. Then early this year I found Attachment Parenting International and I was like, "Hey, there's a name for what I've been doing and great research behind it." That was really a turning point for me.

What do you enjoy most about Attachment Parenting?
The closeness that I have with my son. He's now two (and a half) years old and he is simply THRIVING and I attribute that to the way that we parent in our household. He is secure and independent, yet very attached to us, which is the way it should be. He also is doing exceptionally well academically and was just moved up to the Pre-K3 class at his school.

What do you enjoy the least?
What I enjoy the least is people who extend their unoffered opinion about how our son is being raised and equate Attachment Parenting with spoiling your child. However, these are the same people who think that holding a baby at any age is a recipe for "spoiling". I don't know what it will take for people to understand that you cannot spoil a baby, their wants and needs are intrinsicly linked. People think that if he/she "just wants to be picked up" it's not a need, but it is! The AP principle of nurturing touch states:

For the child, nurturing touch stimulates growth-promoting hormones, improves intellectual and motor development, and helps regulate babies' temperature, heart rate, and sleep/wake patterns.
Babies who receive nurturing touch gain weight faster, nurse better, cry less, are calmer, and have better intellectual and motor development
Cultures high in physical affection, touch, holding or carrying, rate low in adult physical violence

What would you tell other MOC's about Attachment Parenting?
Attachment Parenting isn't new, crunchy, or hard; it is however intuitive, intentional, and a full-time job (as parenting should be). Also, AP isn't a list of do's and don'ts, it is a collection of 8 Principles to guide your parenting and to produce secure, joyful, and empathatic children in order to strengthen families and create a more compassionate world. Who doesn't want that?

What do you think is the most common misconception about Attachment Parenting?
That it is the same as permisive parenting, that it's too hard/takes too much time, and that it's new agey/crunchy.

Do you blog or twitter? What is your link?
Yes, you're on the blog http://babyheaddiary.blogspot.com
My twitter is http://twitter.com/babyheaddiarist

Any final words?
I hope to be able to spread AP to MOC all over the US, starting with my own corner of the world and eventually moving further. I believe that with more MOCs practicing AP we can create a better world.

Wordless Wednesday: Late Night Crafting

2009-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Joel Dewberry Fabric + Composition Book = My new fabric covered journal!

My Breastfeeding Experiences: National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

2009-08-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I wanted this post up yesterday, but life had other plans. I wanted to end the last week of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month with my story on breastfeeding my first born, so here goes.

I had planned that I would be a breastfeeding mama and so like any good planner I made sure that after I had my son, I requested a lactation specialist to come to my room to help me get the hang of breastfeeding. Well, she came in and looked nice enough, like someone's grandmother, and proceeded to show and tell me how to get my baby to latch on. Here's where things didn't go so well, first it was like she was throwing the baby's head on my boob to get him to latch on (in my subsequent readings, I've never read about that method), then Hass is getting very cranky and upset about being thrown onto a humungo boob and not getting anything out of it. She then tells me that he is impatient and he'll have to learn patience in this world...um, he's like what an hour old? So, eventually we get him to latch on and things seem well, but he seems to not be getting "enough" so she says, let me get you a bottle of formula so he won't be hungry. Oh, if I knew then what I knew now!

So, Hass came into the world having both the bottle and the breast. Not only that, my parting gift from the hospital was an Enfamil sponsored tote bag (that's supposedly a breast milk storage bag, anyone else see the irony in that) and like a case of Enfamil formula. How does this exactly foster breastfeeding? Once, I was at home I would find that it seemed like Hass wasn't getting much milk from one breast, so I always supplemented his feedings with formula because I didn't want him to be hungry or malnourished. Now, this would be when you go to your local La Leche league to get some help, right? Well, I live in a majority black county in Maryland (Prince George's) and although we are the wealthiest majority black county in America, we still have NO LA LECHE LEAGUE in our county. As of press time we STILL do not! So, although I would have liked to go the logistics of actually going to one out of my county was bad. Luckily I bought myself the American Academy of Pediatrics, New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding. Which answered a great deal of my questions.

At some point in my half breastfeeding/half formula feeding routine I got myself a breast pump (a manual one, wrong move) and found that my right breast actually did produce significantly less milk than my left. The reason as to why Hass would be so cranky when he nursed on that side. Even with all the monkey wrenches thrown into the program, I really enjoyed the bonding time I spent with Hass while breastfeeding, along with the benefits I believe he was getting from my breast milk. I stopped breastfeeding with the advent of Hass' teeth, he got them earlier than most and thought it was funny to bite me. I think he was too young to get the implications of the biting and and even with the "disengage" technique he didn't realize the pain he was causing me. So, I stopped around his ninth month.

I hope to breastfeed Naim until he's at least one year old, I know the WHO recommends breastfeeding for two years, but honestly I have to get past my own issues with "extended" breastfeeding. And these issues are solely my own, I am happy to see another woman doing so. So, that's my story, what's yours?

Happy Friday

2009-08-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Sorry I've been MIA, but I've been feeling under the weather lately and didn't want to write while I was all discombobulated! Today is Friday and I just wanted to say that, yes I am still alive and still very much with child (no surprise early visitor). Since I've been home I started on a little craft project for Naim, fabric baby rings for him to play with and chew on. The tutorial for this craft is from the blog Make It and Love It. And I'm using scraps from the pillows I made for him last month. I'll post pics, when I'm finished, I've done 3 out of 5 rings, and the big boy has kidnapped one of them that hasn't been looped yet, calling it his candle, so maybe there will only be four rings.

I'd also like to make some applique onesies for Naim.

In Breastfeeding News

2009-08-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

I know I promised you all a post about my breastfeeding experience with the big boy, but I am not feeling up to snuff today, so it'll be next week. In the mean time I've scouted out some great articles about breastfeeding!

Breastfeeding lowers risk of breast cancer.
200 US Hospitals are now giving out breastfeeding support bags instead of formula bags!
Ticketed for parking while breastfeeding.

AP Principle Thursday: Respond with Sensitivity

2009-08-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday I will be doing an Attachment Parenting principle to familiarize those who do not know about attachment parenting, engage with those that are currently attachment parenting, and create interest in those who would like to know more about attachment parenting.

Today's Attachment Parenting Principle is Respond with Sensitivity.
Build the foundation of trust and empathy beginning in infancy. Tune in to what your child is communicating to you, then respond consistently and appropriately. Babies cannot be expected to self-soothe, they need calm, loving, empathetic parents to help them learn to regulate their emotions. Respond sensitively to a child who is hurting or expressing strong emotion, and share in their joy.

I have a very high-spirited toddler and sometimes his emotions get the better of him, this is the perfect time to practice this principle. Oh yes, sometimes it's hard when he's refusing to put on his clothes and pretends to swim naked on my bed with my 300 count sheets (true story, it happened today). Although we were on our way to work and needed to get him to school for his field trip, instead of yelling at him to get dressed or even ignoring him and walking away, I took it as an opportunity to share in his joy. Now, it would have been counterproductive to share in the joy of nudity because we did have somewhere to be, so instead I engaged him in imaginative play about animals.

I said, Oh so you're a fish or are you a bird? He makes bird sounds, I put on pull-ups. Are you a bird or a frog, he ribbits I put on socks. A frog or a bird? He chirps and the shorts go on. We did this until he was dressed and was finally a little boy. It took a bit more time, but it also led to the desired outcome without yelling or tantrums (from both of us).

How do you/could you work this principle in your own day to day parenting?

What to Wear While Breastfeeding?

2009-08-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my tardiness, this should have been up yesterday!

I am currently in my seventh month of pregnancy and lately I've been thinking what will I wear as a breastfeeding mama? The first time around I had a couple of nursing bras (5) and a few nursing tanks, and one pair of nursing pajamas. That was sufficient for the time because I was mainly in the house and I wasn't breastfeeding exclusively (more on that Monday). However, this time around I plan on breastfeeding exclusively and although I will be home a lot, I don't want to look like the frazzled housewife from heck all the time either.

So, I've been perusing some breastfeeding mama stores online and unfortunately I feel like a lot of items while nice are too expensive. I've found that TARGET has gorgeous maternity bras and tanks from their Gillian & O'Malley line that won't run you an arm and a leg like some other stores (average price at Target $14.00). Motherwear is also having a sale in honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month and I've seen some great steals!

As for outerwear for this time of your life, I've found that most maternity tops are sufficient for breastfeeding as lots of them have deep v-necks or wrap type tops. Then you can supplement those with blouses that button or cardigans and of course the fabulous, must have for every woman...the wrap dress.

So, don't let not having anything to wear be an excuse not to breastfeed there are many great affordable options.

Back to School Goodies!

2009-08-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

It's almost back to school time and I am so excited! Everyone in the family except the new baby will be going back to school pretty soon. I am currently in school for my M.S.M (Non-Profit/Association Mgmt.) and I just ordered my textbooks and I can't wait to crack them open! The big boy goes to a wonderful pre-school that uses the Funshine Expres s curriculum and although we'll both miss all the field trips that he's been on this summer with the summer program, we can't wait to get back to homework time!

Homework time will be even more fun this year because I've found these great colored pencils (big pencils for tiny hands) from Stubby Pencil Studio; in fact, I'd like some of their eco-friendly colored pencils myself! Hass usually puts a lot of pressure on his crayons, which ends up in broken crayons and little tears. I don't forsee that problem with these!

I'm also in the market for some identifying tags and labels for the big boys supplies and clothing that we take to school. So, browsing one of my favorite blogs, Design Mom, I find Mabel's Labels and yell EUREKA (I don't reccomend you doing this at your office...LOL!).

They have a great back to school label pack ($39!!! ), that is going to make one thing in my life, much easier! It's only available until Sept. 25th and then you have to buy the items seperately, so don't wait too long!

I've always loved back to school time myself and seeing the sales papers on Sundays had me reminiscing about my Lisa Frank folders and notebooks with their fabulously bright colors and dreamy desgins. But now that I'm grown up where do I look for MY back to school supplies? Well, I've done well with MomAgenda in the past and it really helped for the early years with Hass. Ingeniously, the year begins with August and goes to December of the next year! My last one was Fuschia, I'm wondering if I should switch it up and go for True-Purple?

Anything else I need I'm sure I could find on See Jane W ork. I'm sure these page markers will make research more fun! Also, if you've been reading, you'd know how I am hankering to create the perfect home office and I know that these brocade desk accessories would be perfect for it!

The DH is pretty bare bones when it comes to school supplies, but I think I might surprise him with a nice notebook that is all his own, so that he won't have to borrow looseleaf from my stash or write in one of my old notebooks for his notes. This one is graphic and not girly at all.

*This entire post is totally my own opinion and was not sponsored or paid for in any way by these companies.*

Wordless Wednesday: Hass is Chilling!

2009-08-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

He fell on the sidewalk and got a boo-boo, but mommy made it better and then we had some quiet time watching Special Agent Oso!

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

2009-08-03T06:49:00.001-07:00

For those of you who weren't aware, August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month! In honor I will be posting, information, resources, and deals every Monday, all month that coincide with breastfeeding.

When you breastfeed your baby, you're providing him with the best possible infant food. No product has ever been as time-tested as mother's milk. Human milk contains all the nutrients your newborn needs and is more easily digested and assimilated than any other infant food. As reassuring as this is, superior nutrition is only one of the many advantages you and your baby gain from breastfeeding.

Putting your newborn to the breast within minutes after delivery causes the uterus to contract and reduces the flow of blood. It also results in the uterus getting back to shape more quickly than it would if you were not breastfeeding. With his small head pillowed against your breast and your milk warming his insides, your baby knows a special closeness to you. He is gaining a firm foundation in an important area of life -- he is learning about love. - Source: La Leche League

Resources:

An Easy Guide to Breastfeeding for AA Women
An Easy Guide to Breastfeeding for all Women

Deals:

In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness month Babies”R”Us is offering free shipping on any Medela or Boppy breastfeeding accessory purchase totaling $20 or more

Crafting for the boys...

2009-07-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

So, I've finally made something out of that big pile of fabric I showed you!

Pillows, which my son has already taken a liking to throwing and catching and a baby blanket for Na'im. The pillows are for what I'm deeming their cozy corner in their room. I will probably be making one more pillow and then a floor mat for that area. I'm also in the process of making another baby blanket and a boppy cover for Na'im as well.

My Adventures in Bedsharing and Co-Sleeping

2009-07-30T05:25:00.000-07:00

I write this post while I am a week into having my son sleeping in his own bed! But we are still co-sleeping. How is this possible you ask?

Well, co-sleeping as defined by API is actually sleeping in "close proximity," which means the child is on a separate sleep surface in the same room as the parents. This includes the use of a cosleeping bassinet or "sidecar," which is a crib-like bed with only three walls, with the fourth side remaining open and pushed up against the parents' bed. For the older child, this can include sleeping in a separate bed in the same room as the parents, or two or more older siblings sleeping together in a separate room.

When we first had our son we invested in a co-sleeper which he basically never slept in, it was too easy to just keep him in bed with us especially with my breastfeeding throughout the night. As an aside, I never understood why people would put their children in a totally separate room when all you're going to be doing is marching back and forth to said room for feedings and changing throughout the night, but I digress. Also, even if he fell asleep in our bed as soon as I moved him to the co-sleeper and he felt that unfamiliar mattress he would wake up! In order for all of us to get more sleep we decided bedsharing it was!

Bedsharing also called the "family bed," describes a sleep arrangement where the family members sleep on the same sleep surface. This practice is recommended for only for breastfeeding families using API's Safe Sleep Guidelines.

We have had a family bed basically from our son's birth until a week ago. That is not to say that it's all been a bed of roses. As our son has grown this delightful little bundle of joy turned into a jumble of arms and legs that could land on you in the middle of a peaceful sleep without any warning. While I got the head of our son, his little noggin snuggled next to mine, arms wrapped around my neck in a loving embrace. My husband often got the tail end of our son replete with kicks to the tummy and feet in the face. We also received unwanted advice from people who "care", but do not practice Attachment Parenting. The refrain of Is He Sleeping Through the Night? and other well intentioned, but intrusive questions and advice on our sleeping arrangements. I was even BLAMED for why our son couldn't sleep without us.

Some of this advice led to a one time use of trying the Cry It Out method. That was tormenting for both my son and I. We would wait 5 min. of crying go check on him, then we were supposed to increase the intervals. Our son WAILED and every time we tried this method (for about 3-4 days) he was so scared, so in shock that he would SOIL himself. That is how upset CIO made him. After that would happen I would just try and comfort him (he would be shaking with fear) and put him back into our bed. NEVER AGAIN! I learned from that not to be intimidated by well meaning, but intrusive people again.

So, then when our son turned two (and daddy was again tired of the midnight sleeping kicks) we bought the book The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers by Elizabeth Pantley, which was a God send. Imagine a book where no one is ridiculing your parenting methods or telling you that what you're doing is wrong, but tells you how (if you would like to) to get your toddler to sleep on their own. Well, we tried some of the suggestions to get him to sleep in his toddler bed in his own room, but after one night of sleeping in there until about 1 am (a coup in our household) he promptly told us, "I don't want my bed", this is now a great family joke and source of laughter for my husband and I. So, what did we do, we ended up moving him back to our bed, knowing that we had a plan for moving him to his own bed in due time.

One of the suggestions that Pantley makes in her book is that for children who have bedshared to start to co-sleep in the family bedroom in their own bed. Well, that made a lot of sense the transition is much smoother from sleeping with mommy and daddy to sleeping beside mommy and daddy versus sleeping in a whole different room (my son has also developed a little fear of "monsters", I have no idea where this came from). So, two weeks ago I ordered him a new toddler bed (to make this milestone more meaningful for him) and told him he'd be getting a new bed and a "mama luvie" (which eneded up being a teddybear with a heart on him).

When the bed arrived our son helped mommy put it together, helped me make the bed, and we put the mama luvie in the bed. We then went through our regular nightime routine, when it came time for us to go to sleep I told him that he was now ready to sleep in his own bed, but that it was right next to mommy and daddy's bed and if he needed us all he had to do was call us and we'd be there. I also explained to him why he was going to be sleeping in a new bed, I told him that he's getting so big that we could no longer all fit in one bed and that sometimes daddy gets hurt at night when we're all in there.

He still looked dubious, so I asked him if he'd like me to lay in there with him for a little while and he said yes. So, I laid in bed with him until he went to sleep then went to my own bed less than two feet away. He woke up about three times, two of those times to say mommy and I would give him a hug or rub his back and one of those times for a drink of water. By the third day I no longer had to lay with him until he went to sleep, I told him he could lay in there by himself and if he wanted he could hug the teddy, because the teddy loves hugs.

In the middle of this we went away on vacation and went back to bedsharing for two nights and I was afraid he'd regress, but he's back to sleeping in his own bed and life is sweet. No more kicking of the daddy, more room for my pregnant belly, and a little boy that is sleeping in his own bed, proud of his accomplishment, and confident in the fact that his parents are there for him even in the middle of the night.

We base our sleeping arrangements on this Attachment Parenting Principle:
Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally: Babies and children have needs at night just as they do during the day; from hunger, loneliness, and fear, to feeling too hot or too cold. They rely on parents to soothe them and help them regulate their intense emotions. Sleep training techniques can have detrimental physiological and psychological effects. Safe co-sleeping has benefits to both babies and parents.

Wordless Wednesday: Scrap Fabric + Imagination

2009-07-29T06:09:00.001-07:00

Scrap Fabric + Imagination = SUPERHERO FUN!

Etsy Love Thursdays!

2009-07-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

This will be a new feature on my blog. Every Thursday I will be sharing my favorite Etsy items and/or sellers. Now, if you've been reading this blog, you would know that I LOVE FABRIC! So, today's Etsy Love Thursday will feature my favorite fabric sellers on Ebay.

Eden's Garden of Fabric
So summery and bright, I see this as throw pillows for your enclosed patio!

Fabric Lane
I would love this as throw pillows on a neutral couch!

Fabric Worm
I see this in a mod nursery for a little boy!

Wordless Wednesday: Perfect Little Office

2009-07-22T05:40:00.000-07:00

Source: Design*Sponge

I want to make an office so bad, but I cannot find the right desk to save my life. I had found one on Craigs List that I loved, but the seller sold it from under me. :(

Product Recalls & Your Children

2009-07-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

In preparation for my new little blessing I'd been making a list of what we already have and what we need to buy. Well, I also decided to take a trip to the government's recall website and I was surprised to learn that TWO things we had for Hass-man was now being recalled!

One was his crib/toddler bed (Simplicity Drop Side Cribs) which thank goodness he never really slept in since we co-sleep most times. This is why it was being recalled: The crib’s plastic hardware can break or deform, causing the drop side to detach. When the drop side detaches, it creates space between the drop side and the crib mattress. Infants and toddlers can roll into this space and become entrapped which can lead to suffocation.

The second item was his high-chair (Evenflo Envision™ High Chairs) due to: Recline fasteners and metal screws on both sides of the high chair can loosen and fall out, allowing the seatback to detach or recline unexpectedly. Children can fall backwards or fall out of the high chair and suffer bumps and bruises to the head, abrasions, cuts and bruises. Detached hardware also poses a choking hazard to children.

To think about the potential harm that could have come to the Hass-man or Na'im through these faulty products is horrifying, so I just wanted to make sure all moms and dads periodically check the US Government's Recall Database for products they own.

Wordless Wednesday: Fabric for the Cozy Corner

2009-07-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Bot Camp by Michael Miller

About the Baby Head Diarist

2009-07-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

About the Baby Head Diarist:

I am a mother of two wonderful little boys, H and N. H was born in 2007 and N was born in 2009. They keep my life, hands, and heart full.

I am a firm believer in attachment parenting (AP) and have found that this approach to parenting is intuitive and speak to the desired outcome I have for my children’s future. For this reason, I will not engage in debates about the “rightness or wrongness” of AP, but I will offer information and insight on this type of parenting and may contrast it with what some may call “mainstream” parenting. My approach to AP manifests itself in my practices of breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping, and positive discipline.

I am currently in a Masters of Management program with a concentration in Non-Profit/Association management and hope to use my education to become a "Professional Parent" offering educational services in the realm of Attachment Parenting, Lactation, Babywearing, and Montessori education.

I sometimes branch out from the topics of parenting into topics on design, décor, or crafting which I am involved in through both creating and admiring.

******

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3 Unnecessary but Awesome Baby Things

2009-07-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some things I loved having with Hass-man as a baby that I will also be using with Na'im when he comes. They are (as the title says) unnecessary, but AWESOME!

Wubanub pacifiers - They are soothie pacifiers (doctor recommended type of pacifier) with a little stuffed animal attached. Hassie wasn't that big on pacifiers (I used to hate when he would cry and people would say, give him a pacifier...I will not tell you what I wanted to say to them), but he loved to play with his wubanub, I think he just liked having something in his mouth that was attached to a toy because he didn't really suck on it, LOL!

Bumbo seat - The Bumbo seat helps even small babies sit upright and I think it's a great way for them to see their world. We have one in lime green that will be passed on to Na'im and I hope he loves it as much as his big brother has. Babies can sit upright in a Bumbo Seat as soon as they have head control. More importantly, it helps them develop the trunk control they need to sit up on their own. It is recommended by pediatricians, orthopedists, and physical therapists. You can even buy them at Target now, I had to get mine from the Bumbo site in 2007.

Infant to Toddler Rocker - We got this as a gift (a million thanks Kenda) and I first used it to put Hassie in when I needed to take a shower and he didn't want to get in the shower with me. He was happy that he could have full view of his mommy and a neat place to sit! Oh and he LOVED the fact that it VIBRATES! As an infant you can strap your child in, but when they get a little older you can just sit them in it and it works as a great seat or rocker. He's at the age where he doesn't like to keep still so it's rare that he sits in it and now Shrek and Mr. Monkey sit in it in the living room. But, soon a new Baby Williams will learn the wonders of this seat and mommy will once again be able to take showers and watch her munchkin at the same time!

This Week in Blog Land..

2009-07-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

*This is not my desk, but I love it and I will be getting a new desk soon so pics will be forthcoming!

Here's what I've been enjoying this week in the land of blogs:

Good to see how a mom works in her child into her work at home day. Gives me some pointers.

Ikea Hacks Play Kitchens: I keep telling myself I will do this one day for the Hass-man!

Hankering for a Kindle now, hoping I get one as a birthday present!

Wishing my home looked this good. I like that it is both beautiful, but not too far removed from a "normal" home that I would feel like I couldn't be comfortable there.

What Have I been Up To?

2009-07-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

I realize it's been a week since I've posted and I really like to post here at least twice a week, but three is even nicer. So, what have I been up to, you ask?

Well, the holiday came and the DH, Hass-man, and I all took a car trip to NJ to see the extended in-laws. We drove up there on the fourth and stayed the night, so it was a nice little daycation. Hass had a chance to meet some more of his family and play with his little cousin while we were there. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and danced himself silly at his great Uncle's barbecue! I had such a good time that I asked the DH when we could go back, we're thinking Thanksgiving, but the baby will only be a month old by then, so we'll play it by ear.

I've been in a bit of a nesting mode and have finally hung up some pictures I wanted to in the living room, cleaned out the master bathroom sink cabinet, and moved my old-fashioned telephone bench to the bottom of the stairs instead of the entryway (where it was becoming a junk landing pad!).

I also received the last of my fabric for the baby blankets this week and completed one of them, I will post pictures when I'm finished with the other one. With the extra flannel I've been thinking about making a special nap time blanket for Hass to take to pre-school. Speaking of sewing, I MUST get a rotary cutter or I'm going to be so mad at myself, scissors aren't always the best tool. Especially because I wanna make a mama-love lovie for Hass and it will be better for cutting around an intricate pattern.

Last, but not least, I've been contemplating some changes to the blog, both design wise and posting wise, but more on that later.

So, what have YOU been up to?

Baby Basics by the Numbers

2009-07-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

Diapering:

Cloth diapering: 20 Infant size diapers $188 + 2 packages of 10 washable liners $22 +
3 rolls of flushable-biodegradable liners(100 sheets per roll) $24 = $234/yr. or + overnight disposables $21 pp (x 7 = $147) = $381/yr.

Disposable Diapers: $42-47 (106) x 26 wks. = $1,157/yr.

You save between $923 and $776 a year, won't that look nice in the savings account?

Breastfeeding vs Formula Feeding

Breastfeeding: Breasts $0 + Breast Pump $50-300 + Bottles (10) $30= $80-330/yr.
Formula Feeding: Formula $22-28/wk. x 52 wks= $1, 300 (avg.) + Bottles (10) $30 = $1,330/yr.

You save between $1,250 and $1,000 a year, that's a nice chunk of change!

My Favorite Books While Pregnant

2009-06-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

There Will Be Blankets!

2009-06-24T11:31:00.001-07:00

So I will be a sewing mama pretty soon and Na'im (you like how I slipped his name in there) will be getting blankets using the new David Walker Oh Boy line.

The blankets will be made using the Oh Boy Vehicles in Orange with a red flannel backing and the Oh Boy Animals in Red with a blue flannel backing. I bought all the fabric from Etsy *swoon*! The David Walker was from Cotton Thread Fabrics and the flannel was from Stitches by Annie (she's located in Canada). I can't wait to get it in my hot little hands and create my first homemade item for the newest addition to our family!

Oh Boy Vehicles in Orange
Oh Boy Animals in Red

Cotton Flannel in Solid Brights

Wordless Wednesday: Shopping List

2009-06-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Oh Joy, Oh Joy!

2009-06-22T06:01:00.001-07:00

We're having another boy!!!

Well, this makes designing the shared room MUCH easier. I will be working on a new inspiration board for that soon and ordering some fabric as well. I am so excited! I even bought his coming home outfit right after I found out (There is also a dark blue knit hat with lighter blue airplanes and booties that are striped, with the dark blue and light blue airplane print on the sole of the foot!):

Coming Home by ms_k on Polyvore.com

Ode to the Daddy Man

2009-06-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

Ode to the Daddy Man

You change the poop more than me
One day you'll teach him to stand and pee.
And when I don't feel my best
You play with him so I can rest.

Most of the time, you let me lead
And listen to the articles that I read.
You share the bed with all of us
Although when he kicks, you sometimes fuss.

Trips to the park and barbershop
Laughing and playing until you drop.
Kissing his face and alieving his fears
Hugging him close and wiping his tears.

Rubbing my tummy full of child
Willing to go that extra mile.
Making use laugh with a silly dance
Being the hero and killing the ants.

You are the man he wants to be
And I'm so glad you're married to me!

Attachment Parenting

2009-06-16T06:21:00.001-07:00

I believe in practicing attachment parenting and have recently joined Attachment Parenting International I was dismayed to find that there is not an API group in my vicinity, so I'm thinking about applying to start my own chapter for my area.

So, in my quest to further attachment parenting in the black community, here's a little quick and dirty guide to attachment parenting (or AP as it's sometimes called).

The essence of Attachment Parenting is about forming and nurturing strong connections between parents and their children. Attachment Parenting challenges us as parents to treat our children with kindness, respect and dignity, and to model in our interactions with them the way we'd like them to interact with others.

Attachment Parenting isn't new. In many ways, it is a return to the instinctual behaviors of our ancestors. In the last sixty years, the behaviors of attachment have been studied extensively by psychology and child development researchers, and more recently, by researchers studying the brain. This body of knowledge offers strong support for areas that are key to the optimal development of children, summarized below in API's Eight Principles of Parenting.

Attachment Parenting International's Eight Principles of Parenting

Prepare for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting -Become emotionally and physically prepared for pregnancy and birth. Research available options for healthcare providers and birthing environments, and become informed about routine newborn care. Continuously educate yourself about developmental stages of childhood, setting realistic expectations and remaining flexible.

Feed with Love and Respect - Breastfeeding is the optimal way to satisfy an infant's nutritional and emotional needs. "Bottle Nursing" adapts breastfeeding behaviors to bottle-feeding to help initiate a secure attachment. Follow the feeding cues for both infants and children, encouraging them to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. Offer healthy food choices and model healthy eating behavior.

Respond with Sensitivity -Build the foundation of trust and empathy beginning in infancy. Tune in to what your child is communicating to you, then respond consistently and appropriately. Babies cannot be expected to self-soothe, they need calm, loving, empathetic parents to help them learn to regulate their emotions. Respond sensitively to a child who is hurting or expressing strong emotion, and share in their joy.

Use Nurturing Touch -Touch meets a baby's needs for physical contact, affection, security, stimulation, and movement. Skin-to-skin contact is especially effective, such as during breastfeeding, bathing, or massage. Carrying or babywearing also meets this need while on the go. Hugs, snuggling, back rubs, massage, and physical play help meet this need in older children.

Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally -Babies and children have needs at night just as they do during the day; from hunger, loneliness, and fear, to feeling too hot or too cold. They rely on parents to soothe them and help them regulate their intense emotions. Sleep training techniques can have detrimental physiological and psychological effects. Safe co-sleeping has benefits to both babies and parents.

Provide Consistent and Loving Care -Babies and young children have an intense need for the physical presence of a consistent, loving, responsive caregiver: ideally a parent. If it becomes necessary, choose an alternate caregiver who has formed a bond with the child and who cares for him in a way that strengthens the attachment relationship. Keep schedules flexible, and minimize stress and fear during short separations.

Practice Positive Discipline -Positive discipline helps a child develop a conscience guided by his own internal discipline and compassion for others. Discipline that is empathetic, loving, and respectful strengthens the connection between parent and child. Rather than reacting to behavior, discover the needs leading to the behavior. Communicate and craft solutions together while keeping everyone's dignity intact.

Strive for Balance in Personal and Family Life -It is easier to be emotionally responsive when you feel in balance. Create a support network, set realistic goals, put people before things, and don't be afraid to say "no". Recognize individual needs within the family and meet them to the greatest extent possible without compromising your physical and emotional health. Be creative, have fun with parenting, and take time to care for yourself.

Source: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/principles/principles.php

Attachment Parenting International is currently running an Anniversary Special and you may purchase a membership for only $15! This offer lasts from June 15 - June 30th!

Swoon...

2009-06-15T14:44:00.003-07:00

If I had the space in my own home, I would hope that my office would look just like this!

In real life this is the studio of Dottie Angel.

This really makes me want to start on my inspiration board and NOW! What do you have on your inspiration board? Do you have an inspiration board?

New Look!

2009-06-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Babyhead Diaries received a new look this weekend! My old look was based on the older version of blogger and some of the new blogger features just wouldn't function. Which leads to the new look you now see, what do you think?

Morning and Night

2009-06-11T06:16:00.001-07:00

My favorite parts of the day are the morning and right before we go to sleep at night. Every night I ask Hass "How was your day?" and listen to him talk about all the things he did or thought about during the day. Invariably he tells me, "I missed you mommy." and I reply, "I missed you too." Then I tell him about my day and my favorite parts and what fun I had with him when we got home.

I ask him, "What are you going to dream about?" And he tells me a list of things, usually about animals, the circus, the zoo, mommy, daddy, and now the new baby. Then I tell him what I'm going to dream about and then I say, "Goodnight, sweetheart." and he says, "Goodnight, sweetiepie."

The morning is when I wake him up by kissing him on his cheeks or tickling his long narrow feet. He smiles and puts his arm around my neck, our morning hug. Then I ask him what did he dream about and he tells me. Yesterday it was about the new baby, but this morning he said he had a bad dream so he was a little cranky.

I sing him his favorite morning song..."Get your butt up, get your butt up, in the morning, in the morning, get your butt out of bed!" he laughs and we wait for daddy to come upstairs and bring Hass his clothes for the day. He tells daddy he missed him and hugs him tight. I go into the bathroom and start my routine. Then I hear the pitter-patter of little toddler feet, he's followed me into the bathroom and wants to get ready, too.

I love the morning and the night.

New Posts...

2009-06-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

I've imported some posts that have to do with my life as a mother into this blog from my other blog Cre8tive Rookie. I am still deciding as to whether I'll keep both blogs going or just transition to only writing here.

Ebonymommy.com Blog Babyshower Giveaway

2009-06-10T07:03:00.000-07:00

SPREAD THE WORD!!!

The Big Brother Chronicles

2009-06-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

Last night he was telling me all the things he was going to teach the baby:

hold a bottle
not cry
not whine
run
walk
manners

He wants it to be a girl, too with no prompting from us, so I really hope it is. I told him I will be getting him a shirt that says, I'm a Big Brother on it and he can wear it to school when the baby is here.

He likes to play this game where he says, "There's a baby in your tummy." and I say "Yup." Then he goes is it here (and points to some place silly like my forehead), here (points to arm), here (points to neck), etc. then he cracks up laughing and says, No, in here!" and points at my stomach!

The Second Time Around...

2009-06-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

The second time around
Ooh, the second time is so much better, baby
The second time around
-Shalamar

The second time around for pregnancy, I feel a bit more at ease (although when I was about 10 weeks I had a scare and thought I was miscarrying and ended up in the Emergency Room). I don't know if it's because I've given birth before or if it's because right before I learned I was pregnant I was going through the roughest time of my life (yes THE ROUGHEST) and I had resigned myself to "let go and let God" for everything.

Then suddenly this miracle happened, a baby, divinely placed into our lives at a time when our lives were faltering and we were falling out of "something" with one another. Which is why I hope to name her Nia (Swahili for Purpose). I believe all children have a purpose, but I especially believe that this little one's purpose is/was to bring a clarity and focus in our lives that we were missing. It took some time, but I believe the DH is with me on that as well. So, the second time around I am less worried about anything and everything that first time mothers are worried about. I am less concerned about what to buy and having the perfect this or that. This time around I am just praying more, worrying less, and enjoying myself and my family.

Say it again
The second time around
All that I've been through
I'll do it again just as long as I'm with you
The second time around

20 Weeks Stats

2009-06-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

How far along? 20 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Do not step on scales, unless I have to.
Maternity clothes? yep.
Stretch marks? No new ones.
Sleep: With my maternity pillow and lots of crazy dreams
Best moment this week: Going out to lunch with my friend Jess!
Movement: Yes, but sporadically.
Food cravings: None. Could use some more fruit, though. In fact I might go downstairs and get a smoothie.
Gender: Don't know yet.
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? half-way in and out.
What I miss: Being able to stay up late.
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex.
Weekly Wisdom: Start thinking about a will, yes it's morbid, but better safe than sorry!
Milestones: Last week, I patted her and she kicked back, we did this for about a minute.

About Hassan - The Birth Story

2009-06-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

I had a really good birth experience.

As some of you know I start feeling contractions at 10 the night before, they were really light so I finished up some work I had to do and then tried to get some sleep. At 5 in the morning, I got a contraction that was BIG so I woke up Sharief and was like I'm having contractions. Since he didn't know I was having them all night, he was like are you sure, I'm like yes! So, I say well first I want to do some things because I know that at my hospital once you're there you're there and you're on monitors and can't move around or eat or anything. So, I printed out my phone list, got on the board, ate some breakfast, got on my birthing ball and did some other stuff. So we ended up leaving the house at 8am.

When we get to the hospital after I'm signed in and everything they take me to the Triage unit to make sure I'm in labor, I am at 3 cm. dialated so they get a L&D room ready for me. I go into L&D and I'm in labor for a good while doing it all natural like I planned when BAM I got the mother of all contractions. I was like I don't know if I can do this w/o anything, so I let about 10 of those huge ones hit me and they're coming fast, then I'm like nope I want an epi. before it's too late. After the epidural I'm a little numb, but I can still feel contractions and though they're not as bad they're doozies and my back is starting to hurt on one side, so I tell the dr. and they tell me to press the button for more, I do it about 3 times in 2 hrs. to no avail. So the dr. comes in and gives me another dose, this time it takes...BIG TIME!

So, I am completely numb and things are going well until the nurse and dr. comes in and says the baby's heartbeat dropped and I might have to have a c-section. I told them I really didn't want to have a c-section, so they gave me an oxygen mask so I could do deep breathing to raise his heartbeat. So, I'm doing that when suddenly they're like okay you need to start pushing now, I'm numb as fcuk so DH holds up one leg and I the other and after about maybe 20-30 min. of pushing...HASSAN!!!

He's 7lbs. 7oz and 20.5 inches long. And he has super long arms and legs like his mom and dad. Oh and his feet are HUGE for a baby and they are shaped exactly like Sharief's it's hilarious. I'm hoping he's at least 6'3!

Woo-Hoo Baby #2!

2009-06-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

Lots has happened since my last baby shower post, for instance Hassan is now 2 and a half! Being a mommy took a back seat to writing about being a mommy, but I'm back now because WOO-HOO we're having baby #2. Hopefully, I can keep this blog going and update you all on Hassan as well as write about the new baby as well.

Here's a recap of what's been going on:

March 25, 2009
My first doctor's appt. is next Monday. I am a little nervous that I think I'm nearing the end of my first trimester and this will be my first doctor's visit. Luckily, I haven't had any liquor at all during this time and the most I'm worried about is my folic acid (I took a vitamin sporadically before I found out) and the fact that I had a bad cold and used Nyquil for like 3 days. But I am very excited to see where I am in this pregnancy and to get a sonogram. I do have a baby bump now and although it is not really noticeable in clothes I can tell with how my clothes fit. I am excited for new maternity clothes, I gave all my old ones away, plus they were mostly fall/winter clothes and I'll be needing spring/summer stuff for the most part. I am looking into getting some things from H&M and American Apparel. I will be having another shower to celebrate this baby's birth and I am so excited that it will be in WARM weather. So, my bff was saying she would like to throw it in my parent's backyard and that will be fabulous, it's spacious and gorgeous. Plus, they're buying a new cabana for the back, too! The theme will be a "book" shower, so I think she's asking everyone to bring their favorite children's book. We all know I'm hoping for a girl, so I'm trying to find some good middle name options for Nia.

March 30, 2009

Oh my! My doctor's appt is in an hour. I'm nervous and excited. This is such a different experience, with Hass DH went to EVERY appointment with me. I picked a new doc close to my job so I hope we click. I also hope they give me a sonogram today. I can't wait to hear my due date. I have so much nervous energy!

I is back!So uneventful, except I heard little Nia's heartbeat! They're thinking I'm 13-14 wks. which would give me a due date of Sept 22. I'm hoping it's at least first or second week in October. I got my blood work done, but I need to call for an ultrasound. I will try to see if they have one avail. after I get off of work or tmw. during my lunch break. I was really hoping I could see her today. I told my boss today I was pregnant, that went well. He's super cool. I will be delivering at a diff. hospital than with Hass, but it's good it's George Washington Univ. Hosp. so that's cool.

I would like to have her after MY birthday which is Oct. 6! I know that's selfish, but it's true! I just know I want some cake and someone being excited over me turning 30 and if I have her my 30th birthday is going to be about me nursing and bathing and sleeping.

May 5, 2009

DH is on the hook for the middle name so it's up in the air now. Back up name if it's a boy is Naim (Ny-eem)or Nasim (Nah-seem). RANDOM STUFF: OMG, this baby won't let me eat anything with sugar in it or maybe it's the High Fructose Corn Syrup in stuff. Even stuff that you normally don't think of as sweet I can taste the sugar in (mainly processed stuff). So she's helping me or FORCING ME to eat healthier and fresher than I normally would. I also feel like because of this and the psycho morning sickness that I weigh less right now in my preg. than I did with Hass man. Too bad I actually didn't keep a diary or journal of my weight at diff. times in my preg. maybe I should start doing that now. Speaking of journaling, I feel bad to say that I don't have a lot in Hass baby book, now I can go back on a non-busy Saturday and fill it in, but I wasn't good at recording stuff. I do have a million pics from day 1 until now, but not a written record of a lot of things. I say to myself I was too busy living the life with him to record it, but I wish I was better at recording it. I hope to do better this time, although it's usu. the 2nd child's baby book that gets the SHAFT!

June 4, 2009

Working on an inspiration board. The baby will probably be sleeping at night in our room, but I think we'll do naps in the crib. So the nursery will be a shared space, so the colors are going to be pretty neutral/work with Hass' bedding. Here's what I have so far: The crib will be a Jenny Lind crib that I will paint green. The materials I will be using is the orange dot with the flower mix pattern on the reverse (flowers for girl) I will also have a custom made elephant for her, that's why that's there. I'm thinking of doing a paint treatment like the bottom pic, with green at the bottom and an orange stripe.

Make me over...

2009-06-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

What I Want to Look Like!
Even Halle's casual look is sexy and cute!

I don't talk about fashion much here, but I've been a fashion buff for a while. My style has changed over the years, I was more risque at ages 19-22 for example and now I like quirky classics. For the past two years I have announced that I was going to only buy things that I thought I looked fabulous in, not okay, not covered, not dressed, but FABULOUS! This usually works for about a month or two and then I go back to buying clothes on a whim or because I need something different to wear no matter what it looks like. So I have LOTS of clothes, but I end up wearing about half of them. So about once a year I decide to purge and make my vow of only FABULOUS clothing. Well, right now I am pregnant so I will be buying things that are tossable for sure and I DO NOT like spending a lot of money on maternity clothes, but I am VOWING that when I start buying for the fall/winter of 2009 I will only buy things that not only look fabulous, but are QUALITY! So this means cashmere sweaters (in quirky colors and patterns please), designer jeans (gotta love Seven's), and basically really getting my money's worth. So instead of five $20 sweaters from H&M I will get myself one for $100. I want to look like the cool sophisticated mommy, not the one that can't get it together!

Nurseries I love... Sloan's Nursery

2009-06-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

This nursery is a friend of mine's for her daughter Sloan who should be here any day now!

Here is her inspiration board she created before she started:
And below is the actual finished nursery. The frames hold pictures of Sloan's mommy and daddy as babies in black and white. Both pictures are nude pictures in similar poses flanking the quote from the inspiration board. The changing table has art work created espscially for the nursery and nearby is a rocker by Ikea. I think Sloan will be perfectly happy in this room and so will her parents.

Learning to live with less...

2009-05-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

Less is more...more space, more clarity, more freedom! Why did it take me almost 30 years to realize this? I'll tell you why because we live in a land of excess and a mantra of more and a life of keeping up with the Joneses! Well, no more. I am committing myself (and my family) to living a life of less things and more experiences (shout out to Belle for the paraphrase). So this epiphany comes with a task that requires a lot of hard work and that is getting rid of the excess things I have in my home.

The first step in figuring out whether you have too much stuff (stuff is a bad word) is whether you have SPACE to hold all your stuff. If you cannot find a place to put most of your stuff, you probably have too much stuff. If you want to throw massive amounts of stuff out onto your lawn and curse while you're doing it, you probably have too much stuff. If you can not do laundry for a month (or more) and still have copius amounts of clothes to wear, you probably have too much stuff. If you have not touched, used, or seen some of this stuff in more than a month (and it's not seasonal), you probably have too much stuff! I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF!

My stuff can be summed up in the following categories:

Baby/toddler stuff - you do NOT need all the stuff that the stores put on their registry lists, it is a SCAM! After living with the big boy for the last two years I've realized how much stuff we didn't need and/or that he only used/wanted for about a week.

Clothes - as I stated above I can not see an item of clothing for months and not miss it AT ALL! I am pledging to only buy things I love and buy QUALITY over QUANTITY! I've always read about doing that, but there's so much STUFF I wanted to buy. But no more!

Hubby's stuff - this category runs the gamut from clothes to momentos to old photographs and lots and lots of ephemera, that I lovingly call JUNK!

Well today I've started my first strike against the excess STUFF in my household! I've scheduled a bulk trash pick-up and some of the things they'll be hauling away (this time) are a standing hair dryer, old television, old tv stand, old cable boxes, and various other items of junk. Here's to living with less!

Nurseries I Love!

2009-05-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

With baby on the way, my thoughts have moved to nurseries and here are some nurseries I'm currently in love with:

This first one is a shared nursery which especially piqued my interest because baby #2 and the Big Boy will be sharing rooms in the near future. I love the neutrals and the calm feel of this nursery, very uni-sex, modern, and grown up, but playful.

more pics

This is another lovely space, the bright blue and reds, anchored by the chocolate brown looks so fresh and modern! I also love the handmade touches of the hamper liner, changing pad, and the name art on the wall. Although this room was meant for a baby boy, I could see a happy baby girl in this space as well.

more pics

To make...

2009-05-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

Here are things I want to make:

Custom changing pad cover (look at the neat pockets!)

A custom car seat cover a la Joon Bug Baby

I wish, I wish...

2009-05-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

I've just added this to my mental wishlist!

Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers

Beloved designer Lotta Jansdotter shows how easy it is to make cheerful gifts for little cherubs. A new mother herself, she's created 24 projects that match her simple style with practicality, resulting in sweet, yet durable, essentials for any rumble-tumble baby. She includes baby hats, bibs, a diaper bag built for the back of a stroller, a ribbon-tag blankie perfect for teething, and many more pint-sized projects. Beautiful photographs inspire while clear step-by-step instructions and how-to illustrations ensure foolproof crafting. With ready-to-use pattern sheets included in the handy front pocket and stencil templates at back, Simple Sewing for Baby makes it a cinch to stitch up modern accessories for both baby and mom.

Lotta Jansdotter is a self-taught designer. She works from her studio in Brooklyn, New York.

More Baby Thoughts...

2009-04-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

Since I am "with child" now and what's a more awesome cre8tive endeavor than that, I will be writing some about my pregnancy and more things in the world of babies and children.

Right now I'm thinking about:

Organizing the house so it's more baby friendly.

Right now the house is toddler friendly, i.e. safe, but messy usually. However, with the coming of a new baby we'll need more crawling and cruising safe areas. Meaning I need to shift more of the toddler toys into the Big Boy Room and make the living area baby friendly like it used to be. This may also mean rearranging the furniture again so the layout is more open. Our living and dining area is open and to delineate the spaces I had placed my couch horizontally facing the french doors for the living area with the back of the couch delineating the dining area. I will most likely move the couch back the wall so that the living dining space is open again.

My waist, I'm starting to miss it already!

I'm seeing such cute summer clothes and I know I won't be able to wear them. Also, everyone is telling me that being pregnant in the summer is unbearable because it's already hot and then being pregnant and bigger makes you hotter! Thanks guys!

Baby wearing

I'm an attachment parent at heart and I loved wearing my big boy in a sling when he was little. I just joined a new message board for babywearing, The Baby Wearer, and I'm thinking about joining a baby wearing group in my neck of the woods. Here's a little info. on the benefits of babywearing:

Babies cry less. Research has shown that babies who are carried cry (on average) 43% less overall and 54% less during the evening hours (1). In cultures where babies are carried almost continuously, babies cry much less than those in non-carrying cultures (2-6).
Good for baby's mental development. Babies spend more time in a "quiet, alert state" when carried - the ideal state for learning. Their senses are stimulated while being carried (yet there is a place to retreat too). When carried, your baby sees the world from where you do, instead of the ceiling above his crib or people's knees from a stroller. And the extra stimulation benefits brain development.
Good for baby's emotional development. Babies are quickly able to develop a sense of security and trust when they are carried. They are more likely to be securely attached to their care-giver/s (7) and often become independent at an earlier age (8).

That's it for now folks!

Weekend Sewing!

2009-04-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, not this weekend, but last weekend! This weekend was filled with hayrides, pony rides, sheep shearing, duck and peacock feeding and indoor picnics! However last weekend I was a sewing machine (as promised). I have finally made the rocket ship comforter and pillow for the big boy room! He still won't sleep in there, but one step at a time.

I made the pillow using this awesome tutorial from Fabritopia, you can also buy a "kit" that has all the fabric cut to size, but I had my own fabric for the project. This took me about an hour because I had a lovely two year old who wanted to help at every turn, but I'm sure if you attempt this without a toddler assistant you can finish it much faster! Here is the lovely finished pillowcase:

After I put my "assistant" down for his nap, I decided to tackle the comforter. Now a comforter is basically a big throw pillow that is long and flat, so I didn't use a tutorial or pattern for it. I knew the measurements of the toddler bed and factored in an inch for seams/leeway, plus 3 inches on each side for "hang" on the bed. Most toddler beds are 27.5 x 52, so I made the dimensions of the comforter 36 x 55. I decided to incorporate all the fabrics that were used in his pillowcase, so one side was completely the white robot print and the other side was the stripes, with a 6" orange robot border. I used an old fleece blanket as the inner "filling" for the comforter. Here are the results on the big boy bed:

This is the happy customer!

I love Fabric!

2009-04-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

I wish I had this stash! My fabric should be getting a work out this weekend, because I am committed to sewing SOMETHING, ANYTHING!