Second Trimester, Finally

For the past couple days, I have felt less nauseated and had a bit more energy. I have been waiting for this! My belly has been growing a bit every day but it really popped out yesterday. My friend Emily has been taking pictures of my growing belly and as soon as she sends the ones she took at 9 weeks, I will post them here. We're taking 14 week photos this week. I don't have many from my first pregnancy, and none from the birth/first few days with me in them. We're not going to let that happen again!
A few nights ago, I felt the baby moving around. When I poke my tummy, the baby moves away. Since the baby is still low, my big belly isn't in the way when I lay down, so it's easy to feel the baby. I could feel the baby again last night. I hope that we can continue to spend a little time poking at each other each night after Aiden falls asleep. Speaking of which, it is that time again.

Second Appt w/ Alice

Tonight made this pregnacy even more definite! Although tests showed that I was definitely pregnant, and my belly has grown a little bit, being sick all the time does not seem like fair proof of the creation of life going on. During my visit with Alice, she showed me where the baby was "yes, that little bump is your baby" and we heard the baby's heartbeat! It was also a relief to hear that I am measuring in at 11 or 12 weeks since we were not sure of the date of conception. I didn't want to be too far off (birthing tub rental depends on due dates you know)! So it seems that the baby will be joining us sometime around August 25th.

Two Lines

Three tests have confirmed it, baby number 2 is on the way! I was a little hesitant to find out before my big life insurance licensing exam tomorrow, and rightfully so because studying has become nearly impossible. All I can think about is the little one growing in my tummy, and all the wonderful stuff that comes with pregnancy. It's funny how an idea can become all consuming in such little time. A lot of thought has already gone into the type of birth we'll have this time, the books to be read, and the search for the perfect midwife willing to attend a home vbac birth. While I was being jealous of all the mamas in blogland with their new babies, my body was creating one of my own. I can't wait to feel this little one wiggling around in my tummy, I missed that so much after Aiden was born!
How's the big brother reacting? I don't think he truly understands yet. Maybe as my tummy gets bigger.?.

Snow!!

Nine or ten inches of snow fell on Monday. We had fun playing outside!

The Party

Aiden's party was so much fun! Check out the awesome Shrek cake my mom made below! We also had dirt cups (pudding, crushed oreos & gummy worms) and putrid punch (lemon-lime kool aid, orange juice, ginger ale, and gummy worm ice cubes). He's got some beautiful wooden toys to play with now, and is enjoying his new movies. He digs those drums too.
Opening presents

Playing the drums

Blowing out the candle

Cutting the cake

Two

It's hard to believe that it has been 2 years since you were born, but then again, it often doesn't seem like there was life before you. To think back to times I fell asleep without you next to me, or got up in the morning without carefully rolling off the couch so I don't wake you, it doesn't seem real. Like a movie I saw, or a dream that is fading away.
A tiny portion of things I love about you:
You can always make me laugh, and you know it. You're such a little clown, making faces or goofy noises, or tickling my feet.
You love being outside and prefer to spend the entire day out in the yard running around with your dump truck, hitting trees with a stick or hammer, or peeling bark off trees.
You almost always have some sort of tool or "sword" in your hands. Screw driver or curtain rod, stick or rubber mallet. And you know how to use them. You'll walk over, tip your tricycle with one hand and start fixing it with your tools. I love watching you fix things.
Lately, you carry an army man with you everywhere.
You can figure out how anything works almost immediately. I have no idea how this just comes to you, but it does.
If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to get it. Your relentless determination can drive me crazy, but I admire that in you.
You come over to visit me on the computer for a quick sip of milk before going back to whatever you were doing.
You have gone from calling me "mum mum mum mum" to "muma" and now I'm just "ma".
When you want some milk, you come over and say "ma", sign milk with both hands, then say mo. How can a mama resist that?
When you point out body parts, you "beeeeep" belly buttons, nipples and noses :)
When you see someone you know outside, you bang on the window and say their name. When you see someone you don't know walking by, you wave and say "bye". I wish I could spell out bye the way you say it. So adorable.
You call spoons pooms and say beee for please (we never forced you to say please, you just started saying it on your own and we didn't know what you meant for a while). You also pronounce more mo. Yep, you are the cutest.


You ride the dogs whenever you catch one of them laying down.
You "roo" after Meisner, and it is so damn cute.
You adore Grampy (still call him "da" too) and love playing with him, especially at his house or when we go somewhere with him.
I still love your little fingers and little toes, even now that they are so much bigger than they were 2 years ago.
You are so big now, and you just keep getting bigger. I love you little man. Happy Birthday!

Procrastination

Well, I missed the Halloween photos post, so I avoided the next post, and then the next one, and then I was so far behind that I didn't know how to catch up. I wanted to try posting every day in November. The guilt of not posting every day kept me from posting at all (Thanks to Flylady, I know longer do this with most things!) Anyway, I will be posting tomorrow. My man is turning 2! I will attempt a post telling him some of the wonderful things I love about him, and hope that my usual inability to articulate subsides for one day.

Aiden was Draco Malfoy for Halloween
And look at what I found the other day!

Born Free Co-op

There is a Born Free Co-op over at the Hip Hippee yahoo group. It's going on in another group as well (same co-op though). Feel free to join. I've ordered Aiden some drinking cups on the other group. These are made from safer, BPA free plastics. You can find out more about Born Free at their website. Savings are significant when ordering through the co-op!

Our Second Fairy House

When catching up with Grace's blog last week, I was totally inspired by the fairy tea party her family creates on Solstice. I love the idea of creating a party for the fairies held every year, and we will be doing that next year. After the Garden Party, we planned to build a fairy house in our backyard. We had even saved a shell to use for fairy food. The night I read her post, we ventured out into the trees that surround our yard. We found a particularly fine spot where two trees were joined at the base, leaving a hole that fills with water in the middle. A fine fairy pool, or hot tub these days. We immediately set to work on the house, using y sticks to hold stick for the roof. We then covered it with oak leaves and set up an acorn table & chairs inside. I managed to get a few pictures before Aiden's determination to put every stick within his reach on the roof got the best of it. I'm sure the fairies still enjoy their new home, despite it's structural flaws.

Sorry I am Slacking

I fully intended to post more often. Apologies to all my blogging friends who come here to read and find cobwebs growing on old posts. My Uncle Skip died of cancer a few minutes ago and I am really busy with the house & SaS. Please do not give up on me. I hope to be back on my feet & more organized in a couple weeks.

A Day in the Life of Aiden Part 1

Years from now I want my blog to be yet another place that Aiden can go to see pictures of himself as a baby, and read what he was up to back then. Therefore, I have decided to write a day in the life of Aiden posts to give an idea of what it's like to be a 20 month old Boo Bear. Based mostly on today.

Aiden nurses off & on all morning, but almost always at 6:30. He occasionally gets up after, but often falls back to sleep for an hour or so. When he gets up, he usually talks a little bit, then comes to find me. If I am on the computer, he'll come over and nurse again. I sing him a good morning song. He gets down and starts playing with whatever is nearest to him. I make him some breakfast, or give him some of mine if I got a head start on eating. This morning we watched an episode of Fraggle Rock. After he is done eating, he gets down and plays some more. This is the time of day that he starts getting really chatty. Words like "bugna", "dogna", bird, kitty, boat, bike, bite, outside, boo boo and choo choo mix in with lots of "Aiden speak". He spends a lot of time looking outside and pointing things out. Especially bikes. If I take too long getting ready, he'll look for something to put on. After getting frustrated with the shirt or shoe, or whatever he's found, I always give in. If spending time outside (we do most days) we lather him with sunblock and a little bug stuff. I follow him around the house with my hands covered in sunblock, trying to remember which leg or arm I did last. He often screams during this. I'm not sure why, I would love to have someone rub lotion on me each day :) It's one of the things that we do regardless of his protests. Kind of like the next step, brushing his teeth. He used to love it but I have to almost force the toothbrush in his mouth some days. Aiden will run over to the couch and climb up. We get him dressed and put his shoes on. Now we must move quickly or more protesting will commence. We take Summer outside and hook her at her dog house, and watch Meisner sniff out the animals that came around the night before. Today we checked on the lilac and forsythia trees we planted out front and watered the flowers. We cut some mallow flower, tiger lilies and hosta flowers for the dining room. Then we checked out some mushrooms growing in the moss, looked at the different types of moss growing up the trees and talked about the bee bugnas that were flying in and out of the flowers. All the while, I was singing the theme song to Fraggle Rock. In case you forgot: "Dance your cares away, worry's for another day. Let the music play, down at Fraggle Rock." After lots of running around and hitting things with a hammer & a stick, we came inside to eat again. Afterward we played on the couch. Lots of tickling, laughing, hiding under the blanket, yoga (downward facing dog) and somersaults. No one can make me laugh like Aiden can. I love this kid so much. More nursing and a nap come next. 4 hours down, 9 to go.

Fieldstone Gardens Aiden Pictures

Jon, Aiden, my mother and I attended Fieldstone Gardens' Fairies in the Garden party on Saturday. Sales were unheard of, but we had fun. Aiden was a wood nymph for a couple minutes. I'll let the pictures and captions tell the rest of the story.

Trying to pull wings offPulling on a bead

Only pic with the crown, which blends in with the treesAiden and I next to our fairy houseClose-up of fairy house just before Aiden beat it with a corn stalk

He's so big now!

Pictures of Fieldstone to follow...

We've been skunked!

Most nights I watch part of a movie or tv show while Aiden nurses to sleep, then go to sleep myself, or get up and work. Tonight I watched a movie all the way through, then just as I curled up next to Aiden and cuddled him most lovingly, I started gagging on the worst smell ever, SKUNK! I don't know if it got one of the cats, or just sprayed the house, but the smell is awful! I have found some tips online to get rid of the smell such as apple cider vinegar, baking soda and coffee grounds. If you could see Aiden right now, you'd probably laugh (unless you could smell him too) as he is sleeping surrounded by bowls of the last of our vinegar (no apple cider though), the last of Jon's coffee grounds and baking soda. It does smell slightly less nasty, or at least more like coffee, near him. At least I know what the morning will bring, an early trip to the store for more anti-skunk supplies. Hopefully the smell will subside enough for me to sleep soon! This is ridiculous!

Fieldstone Gardens - A Day of Enchantment

The 10th annual Garden Party, "A Day of Enchantment" at Fieldstone Gardens in Vassalboro, Maine is this Saturday, June 16th. Special guest Tracy Kane, artist and author of "The Fairy House Series", will offer 2 two-hour workshops at 9:30am and at 1:00pm. Kane will read aloud from her book Fairy Houses and then accompany children and their adults into the pine forest at Fieldstone Gardens to help build a "Fairy House Village". Children are encouraged to dress as fairies, butterflies or dragonflies. Kane will be available for a book signing at mid day. Aiden (dressed as a wood nymph) and I will be there, so please stop by the Slings and Sacks/Blessed Baby booth and say hi! For more information on the event, visit www.hvwa.org/special-events.shtml .
Hope to see you there!

Getting ready for this event and completing orders has kept me busy lately. I will be sure to post pictures of my little wood nymph. His outfit is nearly done, I just need to sew the elastic into his pants, sew leaf jewels onto his shirt and pants, add a hanger to his wings for form and sew the wings to his shirt.

Skin Deep

This site is really awesome: Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group's cosmetics database . I initially found their link in Mothering Magazine maybe a year ago, and I am so very glad I did. You can search their site for specific products you use, ingredients, or for the safest products available. I sat down with all of the products my family uses and looked them up. Then I printed a list of the safest items (you can do that too), threw out a bunch, and headed to the local health food store to stock up on safer products. It's wonderful knowing that I am not bombarding Aiden with harsh, cancer causing, toxic chemicals! Before I buy any new products, I always check Skin Deep to see how it rates, and you really should too! You'll be surprised by how dangerous many of the products people use on their babies are.

A quick hint: never use Baby Magic products; they rank the highest in many categories.

Mothering Magazine Subscriptions!

Mothering Magazine subscriptions are now available at www.slingsandsacks.com!
Mothering Magazine is the only magazine that addresses contemporary health, personal, environmental, medical and lifestyle issues in an upbeat, intelligent, compassionate and courageous way.
You will be able to read topics as diverse as circumcision, vaccinations, organic foods, childhood illnesses, home birth, ear infections, parenting teens, midwifery, and homeopathy!
No other parenting magazine compares.
A friend gave me a subscription to Mothering before Aiden was born and it really did change my life. I often wonder if I would have come around to my crunchy ways if not for the magazine (I'm certain I would have, but when?).

Pictures that I have been meaning to post...

Aiden playing at my Mom's. Too bad I don't have the patience to upload the videos of him head-butting the horses. It was hilarious!

Lovely view in No View Greenhouse! Mom has lettuce and spinach growing in one house and seedlings in another.

Look at those greens! Yum!

I made Aiden a fleece cover. All but a couple wool soakers were bought and are ruined. Why all the bulk? That's NOT a Boo Bear Buns diaper underneath, but one of the few I bought back in the days before Slings and Sacks.These were my Scooby toe socks. I cut off the toes and made an tank top that was never going to fit again into cuffs. Very cool!
Rambling side note: In high school I had a glow in the dark Scooby comforter and an orange Scooby lunch box (my school was not vegetarian friendly so packed lunch was a necessity). This was while I was living own my own mind you. Ah, the days of driving my friends around listening to CKY and punk. Video taping those sweet kick-flips and ollies. Wearing questionable tee shirts to school.

Real Men Wear Babies - The Latest in Spring Fashion

Dr. Sear's isn't the only man who wears babies. Check out these rugged men and their babies:

This is Dave. He's showing off his new pouch sling. You can't get more manly than black and green camo! Here you see beautiful little Bellatrix all cozy in her sling. I love the look on her face :)

Jon and Aiden modeled it for me literally minutes before I rushed it to the post office. I love custom orders, but this one was my favorite. A pocket is hidden in the seam. Perfect for a wallet and cell phone.

Thanks to Dave and Christy for sending the pictures!

Also check out these other baby wearing dads:
Babywearing: A Dad's Experience
Hyena Cart Forum: Pics of Babywearing Dad's
Dr. Sears - Father's Wearing Babies
Does this baby carrier make my manboobs look big?

Trip to the playground

On the last day of March, we could be found at the playground up the street. Aiden was very intrigued by all the space to run and the interesting structures to climb and explore, however Mum and Da may have had the most fun! A daily jaunt up has been planned for the nice, lazy days of spring and summer.

Mattress Wrapping - 100% Reduction in SIDS

Have you heard of mattress wrapping? I had not. Well, if you've got a little one, or you care about the health or you and your family, you certainly should read this. Since 1994, mattress wrapping has been 100% successful in the prevention of SIDS or crib death. Yeah, 100%. It's based on the toxic gas "theory". "The theory states that toxic nerve gases permeate from all used mattresses: crib, bassinet, adult mattresses and even sofa cushions. The gases are created when fungus grows inside the mattress (or foam) and eats certain elements in the mattress, including phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony. Babies, especially those sleeping on their stomachs, breathe in the toxic nerve gases, which results in crib death, or SIDS."
Although I disagree with them advising against co-sleeping, their site is very informational. Some other methods of prevention are to avoid fabric softeners and clean with natural cleaners (Itsa Greener Clean found here and here covers that), to become educated about vaccination, breastfeed, do not smoke, and expose baby to fresh air whenever possible. More information on SIDS can be found at Ask Dr Sears.
We are looking into a way to cover the old mattress Jon sleeps on and the couch Aiden and I share. (Yeah we sleep on the couch, if your mattress was as old and springy as ours, you would too!)
Thanks to All Natural Mommies for the original post.